Prevalence of elevated fibrinogen levels and neurocognitive risk factors among middle to older age adults with type II diabetes: Findings from the North Carolina neurocognition risk reduction diabetes study

Introduction: Among uncontrolled Type II Diabetes (T2DM) patients, insulin has been found to acutely increase fibrinogen production. Research has indicated an association between elevated fibrinogen levels and the increased risk for cardiac reactivity and inflammatory activity. The role fibrinogen plays among adults with T2DM and psychological comorbidity is unknown. This study aims to explore the prevalence of high fibrinogen levels in patients with a history of mood disorders and T2DM. Methods: Data was obtained from an academic medical setting through retrospective chart review and analyzed for the presence of a diagnosis or symptom confirming a history of depression and/or anxiety. Fibrinogen levels were measured using a PT-derived fibrinogen assay. Results: Participants were (n=124) between 26 and 65 years of age (SDą9.66, Mean=51) with 84% (n=105) between the ages of 41-65 (Mean=54.11, SDą6.62). Sixty-one percent of those tested for fibrinogen (n=70) had elevated levels (>400 mg/dl) (Mean=497.97, SDą205.33), 95% of elevated were between 41-65 years. Of those 41-65 years with high fibrinogen levels, 71% had a history of hypertension, 54% had a history of depression, and 36% had a history of anxiety. Triglyceride levels (Mean=190.95, SDą115.01) and C-reactive protein levels (Mean=44.95, SDą64.12) were also elevated in this population. Conclusion: Future research should explore the association between fibrinogen levels and mood disorders as stress factors can be high in patients with T2DM due to self-management and disease burden. Elucidating the connection between fibrinogen levels and increased risk for neurocognitive problems may provide insight for diabetes and neurocognition research and practice.