Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio is positively associated with subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background: Subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) occurs frequently in asymptomatic subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Previous studies have shown a direct relationship between the immune system and DCM using reliable biomarkers. Methods: 507 subjects with T2DM were recruited from April 2018 to October 2019 and divided into T2DM with cardiac dysfunction (DCM) group and T2DM without cardiac dysfunction (non-DCM) group. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate relationship between the quartiles of Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and subclinical DCM (covariates: age, sex, BMI, duration of diabetes, and hyperlipidemia). Results: Blood NLR was significantly upregulated in DCM group compared to non-DCM group (P = 0.05). Then the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of the highest NLR quartile was 14.32 (2.92-70.31) compared to the lowest quartile of NLR after multiple adjusted (P < 0.001). However, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts did not significantly relate to the incidence of DCM in T2DM patients. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that NLR was related to the incidence of subclinical DCM, suggesting that NLR may be an efficient and accurate prognostic biomarker for DCM. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900027080). Registered 30 October 2019. Retrospectively registered: www.medresman.org