Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2013) 32 P352 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.32.P352

ECE2013 Poster Presentations Diabetes (151 abstracts)

Increased alanine aminotransferase levels and associated characteristics among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients: results from the DD2 study

Reimar Thomsen 1 , Anil Mor 1 , Jørgen Rungby 2 , Sinna Ulrichsen 1 , Jens Nielsen 3 , Jacob Stidsen 3 , Søren Friborg 3 , Ivan Brandslund 4 , Jens Christiansen 3 , Henning Beck-Nielsen 3 & Henrik Sørensen 1


1Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 2Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; 3Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 4Lillebælt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.


Objectives: There is limited knowledge of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among newly diagnosed T2D patients in the population-based setting, and of factors associated with elevated CRP.

Methods: Measurements of CRP were performed in the first 1036 T2D patients in the nationwide DD2 project, enrolling new T2D patients from general practitioners and hospital specialist outpatient clinics. We examined the number of T2D patients within CRP tertiles and clinically relevant cutoff points of CRP (<1.0, 1.0–2.99, 3.0–5.99, or ≥6.0 mg/l), and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics associated with elevated CRP.

Results: Median CRP was 2.1 mg/l (inter-tertile range, 1.3–3.6 mg/l). 20.6% of patients had a CRP level of 3.0–5.99 mg/l and 19.6% had a CRP of ≥6 mg/l. As compared to the 361 people with CRP values in the lowest tertile (≤1.3 mg/l), those with CRP values in the highest tertile (>3.6 mg/l) were younger (median age 58 vs 62 years, P<0.0001) and more likely to be female (52.7 vs 39.3%, prevalence ratio 1.34 (95% CI: 1.18–1.50)). Patients in the highest CPR tertile had substantially higher median values of BMI (34 vs 28.7 kg/m2, P<0.001) and waist circumference (113 vs 100 cm, P<0.001), and were less likely to do regular sports activities (30.8 vs 46.3%, prevalence ratio 0.67 (95% CI 0.47–0.86). They also had a higher median HbA1C (7.4 vs 6.6%, P<0.001), higher fasting blood glucose (7.26 vs 6.82 mmol/l, P<0.0001), higher C-peptide (784 vs 545, P<0.0001), and were more likely to be on insulin treatment (7.7 vs 5.0%, prevalence ratio 1.54 (95% CI: 0.96–2.13). Blood pressure, lipids, and current smoking were similar between groups. Patients with high CRP had higher Charlson comorbidity index scores (score ≥1 in 35.2 vs 26.1%) and more previous cardiovascular disease (20.4 vs 16.9%) and chronic pulmonary disease (12.4 vs 6.6%). Nonetheless, fewer in the elevated CRP group were on statin therapy (58.9 vs 69.3%).

Conclusions: Among newly diagnosed T2D patients in Denmark, 19.6% had CRP values of more than 6 mg/l. Patients in the highest CRP tertile were more likely to be female, obese, physically inactive, and comorbid, with worse blood glucose control compared to those with low CRP.

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