Association of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with obstructive coronary artery disease and coronary artery calcium score detected by multislice computed tomography in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. METHODS Two hundred and ninety-two T2DM patients, who were either asymptomatic or symptomatic (but noncharacteristic) for coronary artery disease (CAD) and underwent MSCT angiography in our clinic between May 2009 and June 2014, were enrolled. All patients were divided into two groups according to their mean NLR values. Patients with NLR ≤2.05 were assigned to Group 1 and patients with NLR >2.05 were assigned to Group 2. The association of NLR with CACS and obstructive CAD, which were detected by MSCT angiography, was investigated in T2DM patients. RESULTS According to the Agatston scoring method, the mean CACS was 129.5±209.8 Au in Group 1 and 290.3±399.6 Au in Group 2 (P<0.001). Obstructive CAD was detected in 40 (26.8%) patients in Group 1 and in 56 (39.2%) patients in Group 2 (P<0.05, P<0.021). CONCLUSION The rate of obstructive CAD was significantly higher in the T2DM patients with NLR >2.05 than that in the T2DM patients with NLR ≤2.05. In addition, the CACS was also significantly higher in the T2DM patients with NLR >2.05 than that in the T2DM patients with NLR ≤2.05.