Research Article

Free Triiodothyronine Levels Are Associated with Diabetic Nephropathy in Euthyroid Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Table 1

Comparison of clinical characteristics between DN groups.

Total ()Patients without DN ()Patients with DN ()

Age (y)61.06 ± 10.3559.59 ± 10.0362.64 ± 10.48<0.01
Gender (male/female)213/208115/10398/105 0.36
Diabetic duration (years)9.67 ± 7.458.57 ± 7.5210.85 ± 7.21<0.01
Smoking habit, (%) 142 (33.7)83 (38.1)59 (29.1)0.06
BMI (kg/m2)24.92 ± 3.2324.50 ± 2.9925.37 ± 3.41<0.01
Hypertension, (%) 244 (58.0)100 (45.9)144 (70.9)<0.01
SBP (mmHg)133.03 ± 15.86129.99 ± 15.49136.29 ± 15.61<0.01
DBP (mmHg)79.66 ± 9.1077.84 ± 8.9781.67 ± 8.84<0.01
FPG (mmol/L)8.50 ± 2.738.15 ± 2.568.88 ± 2.86<0.01
HbA1c (%)8.8 (7.4–10.3)8.7 (7.3–10.3)8.9 (7.5–10.1)0.70
SCr (μmol/L)60.0 (48.5–72.0)57.0 (48.0–68.0)63.0 (50.0–77.0)<0.01
TG (mmol/L)1.55 (1.13–2.32)1.41 (1.04–2.02)1.81 (1.25–2.76)<0.01
TC (mmol/L)4.92 ± 1.004.85 ± 0.925.00 ± 1.08<0.01
HDL-C (mmol/L)1.10 ± 0.241.13 ± 0.241.07 ± 0.24<0.01
LDL-C (mmol/L)2.86 ± 0.802.83 ± 0.772.89 ± 0.840.46
UACR (mg/g)29.0 (16.0–75.0)16.0 (11.0–23.0)80.0 (48.0–154.0)<0.01
eGFR (mL/min⋅1.73 m2)115.40 ± 35.86125.20 ± 33.25104.79 ± 35.63<0.01
Insulin, (%)133 (31.6)57 (26.1)76 (37.4)0.01
ACEI/ARB, (%)83 (19.7)28 (12.8)55 (27.1)<0.01
Statins/fibrates, (%) 104 (24.7)38 (17.4)66 (32.5)<0.01
DR, (%)126 (29.9)47 (21.6)79 (38.9)<0.01
TSH (mIU/L)1.96 (1.38–2.74)1.87 (1.35–2.73)2.14 (1.40–2.74)0.10
FT3 (pmol/L)3.88 ± 0.423.95 ± 0.413.81 ± 0.42<0.01
FT4 (pmol/L)16.88 ± 2.3416.96 ± 2.4116.81 ± 2.250.52

Data are expressed as means ± SD, median (interquartile range), or numbers (percentages).
DN, diabetic nephropathy; BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; SCr, serum creatinine; TG, triglyceride; TC, total cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; UACR, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; DR, diabetic retinopathy; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; FT3, free triiodothyronine; FT4, free thyroxine.