Abstract
Objective This study analyzed the intima-media thickness(cIMT)indicators obtained through ultrasound examination in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2DM)and their relationship with age, establishing a significant connection between cIMT and both grip strength and walking speed. Methods Cross-sectional data from the UK Biobank(UKB)2014, incorporating 1 036 T2DM patients with complete cIMT data, was utilized.cIMT data was collected from four angles(right common carotid artery: 120°, 150°; left common carotid artery: 210°, 240°), generating three indicators(maximum, average, and minimum values)per measurement angle, totaling 12 cIMT indicators.This included analyzing trends in age and gender; evaluating the single indicator among the 12 cIMT indicators with the highest positive rate for identifying abnormal carotid groups(including thickening and plaque groups, cIMT≥1 000 μm); and assessing differences in grip strength, walking speed, and blood pressure among groups divided into tertiles based on this indicator. Results All 12 cIMT indicators increased with age( P <0.001), with all indicators for the left common carotid artery in male T2DM patients being higher than those in females.Notably, the difference in the maximum, average, and minimum values of the 240° cIMT continued to increase with age between genders; the positive rates for assessing abnormal carotid groups using the maximum value of 240° cIMT were higher than the other 11 indicators in both genders, with significant differences between them( χ 2 =24.391, P <0.001).After age and gender matching in groups divided into tertiles based on the maximum value of left 240° cIMT, a decrease in grip strength and walking speed was observed with an increase in this indicator. Conclusions In T2DM patients, cIMT increases with age, particularly the left 240° cIMT in males significantly higher than in females, and is closely related to declines in grip strength and walking speed.This emphasizes the importance of focusing on this indicator during ultrasound examinations, offering significant insights for assessing physical function in elderly patients.</p>