| Objective To investigate the association of carotid artery and lower-extremity artery atherosclerosis and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Data of 746 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes were retrospectively analyzed. Doppler-ultrasound were used to assess the intima-media thickness, plaques, and diameter of the carotid and lower-extremity artery. BMD of the femoral neck and hip was measured with duel energy X-ray densitometry. Results ① There was a negative correlation between BMD (femoral neck) and carotid and lower-extremity artery atherosclerosis grade (carotid artery r = -0.111, P=0.003; lower-extremity artery r= -0.138, P=0.000). BMD (hip) was negatively correlated with carotid and lower-extremity artery atherosclerosis grade (carotid artery r = -0.094, P=0.011; lower-extremity artery r= -0.127, P=0.001); ② Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, fasting glucose, alkaline phosphatase, carotid and lower-extremity artery atherosclerosis grade were the negative influence factors of BMD (femoral neck and hip, P<0.05). Gender, BMI, and retinol conjugated protein were the positive factors of BMD (femoral neck and hip, P<0.05).; ③ 55.88% of the patients with carotid artery and lower extremity atherosclerosis classification is not consistent. BMD of the femoral neck and hip in simple carotid plaques group, the carotid artery and the lower limb artery plaque group was lower than that in no plaque group (P<0.05). BMD of the femoral neck in carotid artery and lower extremity artery plaque group was lower than that in pure lower limb artery plaque group (P<0.05). Conclusion In patients with type 2 diabetes, the degree of carotid artery and lower limb arteriosclerosis can be evaluated with simple classification method of atherosclerosis. BMD of the femoral neck and hip is lower following the aggravation of carotid artery and lower extremity atherosclerosis. The more extensive of atherosclerosis in carotid and lower extremity, the lower the BMD values. |