Diabetes mellitus and cerebrovascular disease: prevalence of carotid artery occlusive disease and associated risk factors in 482 adult diabetic patients.

The prevalence of carotid artery occlusive disease (CAOD) in a population of adults with diabetes mellitus was determined, and factors associated with its presence were identified. By oculoplethysmography and phonoangiography, 20% of the population studied had detectable CAOD. Univariate analyses revealed that patients with CAOD had a higher prevalence of retinopathy proteinuria, a slower mean conduction velocity in two of three nerves tested, and more atherosclerosis in the leg arteries. Furthermore, increased age, higher cholesterol, lower fasting insulin, higher systolic blood pressure, and less adiposity were associated with the presence of CAOD. Sex, race, type of diabetes (type I or II), duration of diabetes, and measures of glycemia were not related to CAOD. When 10 variables were analyzed by multivariate methods, higher systolic blood pressure, higher cholesterol, and reduced adiposity were found to be the combination most significantly related to CAOD.