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. 2023 Sep 29;28(1):391.
doi: 10.1186/s40001-023-01325-x.

Relationship between cortisol and diabetic microvascular complications: a retrospective study

Shengnan Sun  1   2 , Yangang Wang  3
Affiliations

Relationship between cortisol and diabetic microvascular complications: a retrospective study

Shengnan Sun et al. Eur J Med Res. .

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether serum cortisol associate with diabetic microvascular compliments in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials and methods: The subjects were recruited from hospitalized patients with T2DM from 2019 to 2021. The odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) in relation to cortisol quartiles were obtained by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: (1) Cortisol level was positively correlated with the severity of microalbuminuria. The OR (95% CI) of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in the last quartile were 3.396 (2.030, 5.682) and 8.407 (3.726, 18.971) compared with the first quartile (p < 0.001). (2) Cortisol level was positively correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The OR (95% CI) of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy group (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy group (PDR) in the last quartile were 2.007 (1.401, 2.875) and 7.122 (2.525, 20.090) compared with the first quartile. (3) Elevated cortisol level was associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The OR (95% CI) of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in the last quartile was 1.956 (1.371, 2.792) and that in the third quartile was 1.854 (1.319, 2.608).

Conclusions: High serum cortisol levels were significantly associated with diabetic microvascular compliments in inpatients. Its causality remains to be further studied.

Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2100051749.

Keywords: Cortisol; Diabetic microvascular complication; Logistic regression analysis; Type 2 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ROC Curve of cortisol and risk of albuminuria (A), DR (B) and DPN (C)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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