Scores of coronary calcification determined by electron beam computed tomography are closely related to the extent of diabetes-specific complications

This study was aimed at investigating the degree of calcification of coronary arteries in type II diabetes mellitus for the purpose of examining as risk factors for coronary disease as well as parameters of diabetic complications. One hundred and three patients with type II diabetes were studied by the newly developed noninvasive technology of electron beam computed tomography, in which the degree of calcification was expressed as coronary clacification scores. The mean +/- SE value of coronary calcification scores were 247.5 +/- 48.1, which were significantly greater than the control patients without diabetes (148.9 +/- 48.3, p < 0.05). In the diabetics, the coronary calcification scores had a significant (p < 0.01) correlation with patient age and duration of diabetes. The scores also had a significant (p < 0.05) difference between patients who did and did not smoke cigarettes, and between patients with and without hypertension. The scores were significantly (p < 0.01) different between patients with and without hypertension. The scores were significantly (p < 0.01) different between presence and absence of diabetes-specific complications including retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. In a subgroup of patients without any signs of coronary disease, the scores showed a significant (p < 0.01) difference between presence and absence of diabetes-specific complications, but no significant difference with smoking or hypertension. These data suggest that the extent of coronary calcifications and the development of ischemic heart disease seem to be closely related to the association of diabetic complications. Use of electron beam computed tomography seems to be useful in obtaining the information to predict future development of diabetic-specific complications.