Table 1 Participant characteristics (n = 150)

General characteristics at baseline

Age, y

64.0 ± 8.3

Gender, % male (n)

78.0% (117)

Diabetes duration, y

16.4 ± 9.2

Smoking (active or past), % (n)

65% (97)

Hypertension

85% (128)

Dyslipidemia

91% (137)

Retinopathy

24% (36)

Peripheral neuropathy

35% (52)

BMI, kg/m²

28.7 [25.2 to 32.7]

Systolic blood pressure, mmHg

135 ± 17

Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg

76 ± 9

Insulin use, % (n)

51% (77)

Metformin use, % (n)

79% (119)

Sulfonylurea use, % (n)

45% (68)

GLP-1 receptor agonist, % (n)

7% (10)

Statin use, % (n)

89% (133)

Ezetimibe use, % (n)

15% (23)

Antiplatelet use, % (n)

82% (123)

ARB or ACEi use, % (n)

79% (119)

Beta-blocker use, % (n)

65% (97)

Biological characteristics at baseline

Fasting glycemia, mmol/L

9.15 ± 3.20

HbA1c, %

7.7 [6.9 to 8.3]

eGFR, mL/min/1.73m²

73 ± 19

Albuminuria, mg/mmol creat

2.3 [0.9 to 11.7]

Triglyceridemia, mmol/L

1.66 [1.12 to 2.41]

Total cholesterolemia, mmol/L

3.96 ± 0.90

LDL-cholesterolemia, mmol/L

2.07 ± 0.71

HDL-cholesterolemia, mmol/L

1.06 [0.88 to 1.27]

AST, IU/L

26 [21 to 31]

ALT, IU/L

25 [18 to 32]

AST-to-ALT ratio

1.08 [0.84 to 1.25]

GGT, IU/L

33 [24 to 50]

hsCRP, mg/L

1.24 [0.65–3.04]

IL-6, pg/mL

3.2 [2.10–4.80]

Below-knee arterial calcification

LLACS at baseline, AU

503 [44 to 2224]

LLACS at the end of follow-up, AU

1242 [132 to 4112]

Absolute change in LLACS, AU

+ 547 [+ 53 to + 1761]

Annualized change in LLACS, AU/year

+ 215 [+ 21 to + 688]

FibroMax® panels

SteatoTest® score

0.544 ± 0.206

S0, % (n)

24.3% (36)

S1, % (n)

29.1% (43)

S2, % (n)

18.9% (28)

S3, % (n)

27.7% (41)

FibroTest® score

0.376 ± 0.213

F0, % (n)

39.3% (59)

F1, % (n)

27.3% (41)

F2, % (n)

14.0% (21)

F3, % (n)

13.3% (20)

F4, % (n)

6.0% (9)

NashTest® score

0.50 [0.25 to 0.50]

N0, % (n)

33% (50)

N1, % (n)

52% (78)

N2, % (n)

15% (22)

ActiTest® score

0.12 [0.07 to 0.18]

A0, % (n)

90% (135)

A1, % (n)

6% (9)

A2-A3, % (n)

4% (6)