Association between the ZJU index and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

The ZJU index, as an emerging metabolic health indicator, has not yet been clearly associated with atherosclerosis. This study, using carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) as a measure of atherosclerosis, aimed to explore the value of the ZJU index in assessing the relationship between the ZJU index and CAS in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We employed multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and sensitivity analysis to explore the relationship between the ZJU index and CAS. The predictive ability of the ZJU index for CAS was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. We observed 260 cases of CAS. In the fully adjusted model, the ZJU index was associated with the occurrence of CAS (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10, P = .007). In the highest ZJU index tertile, the odds of developing CAS were 2.26 times higher compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.32-3.93, P = .003). Based on restricted cubic spline analysis, a linear relationship between the ZJU index and CAS was observed in patients with T2DM. receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the ZJU index has a certain predictive ability for CAS. The ZJU index may serve as a potential predictive indicator of CAS in patients with T2DM.