Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of patients among circulating advanced glycation end products (AGEs) groups.
| Low AGEs | Intermediate AGEs | High AGEs | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (< 6.5 U/mL) | (6.5–10.4 U/mL) | (> 10.4 U/mL) | ||
| (n = 35) | (n = 34) | (n = 35) | ||
| Age (years) | 67.5 ± 7.3 | 66.9 ± 6.9 | 73.7 ± 7.9 a,b | < 0.001 |
| Gender (male) | 12 (34.3%) | 17 (50.0%) | 21 (60.0%) | 0.095 |
| Body Mass Index (kg/m2) | 31.6 ± 4.8 | 31.1 ± 4.4 | 31.4 ± 8.1 | 0.689 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 110 ± 10 | 110 ± 11 | 108 ± 12 | 0.466 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 145 ± 17 | 145 ± 21 | 147 ± 19 | 0.827 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 77.4 ± 10.7 | 76.5 ± 9.8 | 75.1 ± 12 | 0.827 |
| Pulse pressure (mmHg) | 67.5 ± 16.1 | 68.8 ± 17.5 | 72.3 ± 15.8 | 0.533 |
| Heart rate (pulse/min) | 78.1 ± 12.6 | 77.9 ± 13.7 | 76.4 ± 14.2 | 0.830 |
| Time from diagnosis DM2 | ||||
| Less than 5 years | 4 (11.4%) | 2 (5.9%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0.726 |
| Between 5 and 10 years | 10 (28.6%) | 11 (32.4%) | 7 (20.0%) | |
| More than 5 years | 21 (60.0%) | 21 (61.8%) | 25 (71.4%) | |
| Comorbidities, toxics and clinical history | ||||
| Hypertension | 31 (88.6%) | 30 (88.2%) | 32 (91.4%) | 0.893 |
| Smoking | 9 (25.7%) | 17 (50.0%) | 14 (40.0%) | 0.114 |
| Alcohol | 5 (14.3%) | 5 (14.7%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0.688 |
| Prior cardiovascular disease | 15 (42.9%) | 13 (38.2%) | 20 (57.1%) | 0.258 |
| Chronic kidney disease (CKD) | 27 (77.1%) | 19 (55.9%) | 32 (91.4%) b | 0.003 |
| 2 (GFR 89–60 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 17 (48.6%) | 9 (26.5%) | 17 (48.6%) | 0.100 |
| 3a (GFR 59–45 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 5 (14.3%) | 5 (14.7%) | 8 (22.9%) | 0.566 |
| 3b (GFR 44–30 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 5 (14.3%) | 5 (14.7%) | 7 (20.0%) | 0.772 |
| Diabetic retinopathy | 9 (25.7%) | 13 (38.2%) | 14 (40.0%) | 0.393 |
| Ischemic heart disease | 4 (11.4%) | 5 (14.7%) | 9 (25.7%) | 0.255 |
| Cerebral stroke | 3 (8.6%) | 3 (8.8%) | 8 (22.9%) | 0.135 |
| Diabetic polyneuropathy | 7 (20.0%) | 6 (17.6%) | 11 (31.4%) | 0.135 |
| Diabetic foot | 1 (2.9%) | 1 (2.9%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0.442 |
| Intermittent claudication | 2 (5.7%) | 2 (5.9%) | 6 (17.1%) | 0.207 |
| Atherosclerosis | 3 (8.6%) | 2 (5.9%) | 11 (31.4%) a,b | 0.007 |
| Medication use | ||||
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/Angiotensin II receptor-blocking agents | 22 (62.9%) | 29 (85.3%) | 24 (68.6%) | 0.190 |
| Beta-blockers | 13 (37.1%) | 9 (26.5%) | 14 (40.0%) | 0.462 |
| Calcium antagonists | 12 (34.3%) | 9 (26.5%) | 20 (57.1%)b | 0.025 |
| Statins | 21 (60.0%) | 29 (85.3%) | 24 (68.6%) | 0.062 |
| Fibrates | 2 (5.7%) | 1 (2.9%) | 2 (5.7%) | 0.825 |
| Phosphate binders | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (2.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.354 |
| 25-hydroxyvitamin D | 5 (14.3%) | 6 (17.6%) | 11 (31.4%) | 0.178 |
| Calcitriol or alphacalcidiol | 1 (2.9%) | 1 (2.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.596 |
| Paricalcitol | 2 (5.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (2.9%) | 0.366 |
| Calcium supplement | 4 (11.4%) | 3 (8.8%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0.904 |
| Bisphosphonates | 3 (8.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (5.7%) | 0.239 |
| Steroids | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (5.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.123 |
| Antiplatelets | 13 (37.1%) | 27 (79.4%) a | 22 (62.9%) a | 0.001 |
| Oral anticoagulants | 4 (11.4%) | 3 (8.8%) | 5 (14.3%) | 0.777 |
| Insulin | 19 (54.3%) | 17 (50.0%) | 20 (57.1%) | 0.836 |
| Oral antidiabetic | 30 (85.7%) | 30 (88.2%) | 26 (74.3%) | 0.262 |
| Uric acid medication (allopurinol or febuxostat) | 5 (14.3%) | 5 (14.7%) | 8 (22.9%) | 0.566 |
| Potassium citrate | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (2.9%) | 0.370 |
| Thiazides | 10 (28.6%) | 10 (29.4%) | 12 (34.3%) | 0.856 |
| Furosemide or triamterene | 8 (22.9%) | 9 (26.5%) | 11 (31.4%) | 0.719 |
| Spironolactone or eplerenone | 1 (2.9%) | 2 (5.9%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0.591 |
Each value is given as mean ± standard deviation or frequency (percentage). The significance of differences between groups were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the independent-samples t-test; or Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test for quantitative data. Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for qualitative data. a: p < 0.05 vs. corresponding value of Low AGEs group; b: p < 0.05 vs. corresponding value of Intermediate AGEs group. Abbreviations. DM2: type 2 diabetes mellitus; GFR: glomerular filtration rate calculated by MDRD-4 IDMS equation.