Sonographic Evaluation of Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Diabetic Females

Objective: To evaluate and compare carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) between premenopausal and postmenopausal diabetic females using sonographic imaging. Study design: It was a cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted at Saeed Medicare, Gojra, and Samar Diagnostic Lab, Lahore, from August to December 2024. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 128 diabetic females, equally divided into premenopausal and postmenopausal groups, aged 40 and above. A stratified purposive sampling method was used to select participants. CIMT measurements were taken using high-resolution ultrasonography, and clinical data including age, BMI, blood glucose levels, and blood pressure were recorded. Data analysis in SPSS version 27 included independent samples t-tests to compare mean CIMT and multiple linear regression to identify key predictors. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d, R²), 95% confidence intervals, and ANOVA within regression were reported, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 128 participants were included, comprising 64 postmenopausal and 64 premenopausal diabetic females. The mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was significantly higher in postmenopausal females (1.013 ± 0.17 mm) compared to premenopausal females (0.666 ± 0.17 mm). Blood glucose levels were also elevated in postmenopausal females (239.62 ± 81.08 mg/dL) compared to premenopausal participants (156.25 ± 47.45 mg/dL). Regression analysis identified postmenopausal status (B = 0.709, p < 0.001) and blood glucose levels (B = 0.001, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of increased CIMT, collectively explaining 58.6% of the variation in CIMT (R² = 0.586). Other factors, including BMI, age, and blood pressure, did not show a statistically significant association with CIMT. Conclusion: The study concludes that postmenopausal diabetic women are at significantly elevated risk for cardiovascular complications due to increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and higher blood glucose levels compared to premenopausal women. Given that postmenopausal status and hyperglycemia explain a significant proportion of CIMT variation, early vascular screening and strict glycemic control should be prioritized in postmenopausal diabetic women to mitigate cardiovascular risk.