ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between serum soluble ST2 (sST2) and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MethodsA total of 334 patients who underwent coronary angiography were selected and divided into three groups: 77 cases in T2DM group, 143 cases in CAD group, and 114 cases in T2DM combined with CAD group.Seventy-two healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period.The clinical biochemical indicators of each group were collected for analysis and comparison.According to the Gensini score, the T2DM combined with CAD group was divided into mild group with 31 cases and severe group with 83 cases.Serum sST2 levels were detected by ELISA, the differences of sST2 levels among the groups were compared and the correlation analysis was performed with Gensini score.

ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in sST2 among the control group, T2DM group, CAD group, and T2DM combined with CAD group (P < 0.01).The sST2 level in the severe group was higher than that in the mild group of T2DM combined with CAD (P < 0.05).Multivariate linear stepwise regression analysis showed that Gensini score, HbA1c, LDL were positively correlated with serum sST2 level (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), while HDL was negatively correlated with serum sST2 level (P < 0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis showed that HbA1c, sST2, and Gensini score were risk factors for T2DM combined with CAD (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and HDL was a protective factor for T2DM complicated with CAD (P < 0.01).The area under the curve for the accuracy of T2DM combined with CAD was 0.851, the sensitivity was 61.4%, and the specificity was 92.1%.

ConclusionsSerum sST2 is a risk factor for T2DM combined with CAD, which can be used as a serum marker to evaluate the occurrence and severity.