Table 2 clinical and biochemical characteristics by quartiles of circulating Nrg4 in all nT2DM patients

Nrg4 (ng/ml)

1.18 ± 0.31

2.14 ± 0.31**

3.26 ± 0.33**^##

5.18 ± 1.08**^##$$

0.000

Men/women

24/17

20/21

15/26

19/22

0.263

Age (years)

65.46 ± 9.70

61.29 ± 7.96*

62.37 ± 8.92

66.44 ± 9.19^$

0.030

BMI (kg/m²)

26.55 ± 3.69

25.79 ± 3.95*

25.02 ± 3.90

24.72 ± 3.39*

0.119

SBP (mmHg)

123.51 ± 11.16

122.56 ± 11.50

124.83 ± 13.19

127.00 ± 10.98

0.351

DBP (mmHg)

72.07 ± 11.29

73.37 ± 9.32

75.73 ± 8.18

74.24 ± 7.05

0.333

FBG (mmol/L)

11.48 ± 3.73

11.79 ± 3.69

10.38 ± 2.83

10.44 ± 3.18

0.140

PBG (mmol/L)

18.82 ± 4.76

19.19 ± 5.92

18.91 ± 7.62

18.82 ± 5.26

0.774

HbA1c (mmol/mol)

84.98 ± 23.16

87.45 ± 20.99

85.63 ± 25.90

86.93 ± 27.21

0.966

HbA1c (%)

9.93 ± 2.12

10.15 ± 1.92

9.99 ± 2.37

10.10 ± 2.49

0.966

FIns (μU/ml)

10.05 ± 6.35

11.71 ± 6.29

10.26 ± 5.32

10.68 ± 6.56

0.624

HOMA-IR

4.76 ± 2.96

6.12 ± 3.85

4.65 ± 2.75

4.84 ± 3.44

0.145

TC (mmol/L)

4.42 ± 1.23

4.37 ± 1.33

4.36 ± 1.18

4.56 ± 1.40

0.893

TG (mmol/L)

2.30 ± 2.69

2.32 ± 1.53

1.55 ± 0.80

2.42 ± 2.21*

0.082

HDL-C (mmol/L)

1.07 ± 0.31

1.10 ± 0.46

1.16 ± 0.32*

1.16 ± 0.36**

0.543

LDL-C (mmol/L)

2.67 ± 0.91

2.51 ± 0.92

2.74 ± 1.03

2.70 ± 1.08

0.731

UACR (mg/g)

39.46 ± 8.70

38.02 ± 6.49

38.07 ± 7.79

52.84 ± 9.54

0.123

Scr (μmol/L)

70.56 ± 21.03

69.83 ± 18.44

65.60 ± 16.44

72.42 ± 19.46

0.417

eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²)

88.76 ± 22.44

89.84 ± 15.55

90.76 ± 16.95

83.89 ± 16.29

0.319

ABI

1.04 ± 0.07

1.05 ± 0.11

1.02 ± 0.15

1.01 ± 0.18

0.880

VPT (V)

27.15 ± 11.37

18.80 ± 10.06**

14.29 ± 5.77**

15.00 ± 6.78**

0.000

25(OH)D (ng/mL)

15.91 ± 5.35

14.11 ± 3.05**

15.76 ± 4.51

18.37 ± 6.15^##

0.007

DPN, n (%)

28 (68.29)

19 (46.34)

16 (39.02)*

13 (31.71)**

0.006

VPT > 25 V, n(%)

28 (68.29)

10 (24.39) **

3 (7.32**^##

2 (4.88**^##$$

0.000

Abnormal pricking sensation, n (%)

34 (82.93)

22 (53.66)

25 (60.98)

22 (53.66)

0.250

Abnormal nylon monofilament, n (%)

8 (19.51)

12 (29.27)

11 (26.83)

11 (26.83)

0.808

Reflex abnormalities, n (%)

6 (14.63)

5 (12.20)

3 (7.32)

2 (4.88)

0.431

Two abnormal DPN screening, n (%)

20 (48.78)

16 (39.02)

15 (36.59)

12 (29.27)

0.340

Three or more abnormal DPN screening, n (%)

8 (19.51)

3 (7.32)

1 (2.44)**

1 (2.44)**

0.012

DN, n (%)

16 (39.02)

18 (43.90)

13 (31.71)

19 (46.34)

0.549

DR, n (%)

4 (9.76)

6 (14.63)

4 (9.76)

6 (14.63)

0.824

PAD, n (%)

3 (7.32)

1 (2.44)

4 (9.76)

4 (9.76)

0.543