Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and microvascular complications in subjects with type 2 diabetes: Pakistan’s perspective

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to find the association between diabetic microvascular complications and the neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio (NLR) in subjects with type 2 diabetes.Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study based on hospital data records from January 2005 to May 2016 at the BaqaiInstitute of Diabetology and Endocrinology. The eligibility criteria included subjects with type 2 diabetes with their latest complete bloodcount while subjects with conditions such as chronic inflammation, cancer, heart failure, and end-stage renal disease were not eligiblefor inclusion. Subjects were divided into two groups: one with any microvascular complications and the other with no microvascularcomplications. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure were measured.Results: Out of 5620 type 2 diabetic subjects, 3202 (57%) were male and (2418) 43% were female. Among these, 3374 diabetic subjectshad one or more microvascular complications and 2246 had no microvascular complications. The NLR was found to be 1.14 timeshigher in diabetic subjects with at least one microvascular complication as compared to diabetic subjects without any complications(4.34 ± 3.32 vs. 3.36 ± 2.67; P < 0.0001). Factors likely associated with microvascular complications were high levels of NLR, HbA1c,serum creatinine, and systolic blood pressure and longer duration of diabetes.Conclusion: According to the results, the NLR is an efficient, cheaper, and readily available marker of inflammation and it is known asan important predictor for the existence of microvascular complications in subjects with type 2 diabetes.