Diabetes Mellitus with Chronic Complications in Relation to Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting Outcomes. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2017;26:217-224. [PMID: 27810149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.09.012]

Predictive Factors for Stroke and TIA Following Carotid Artery Stenting

PURPOSE

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an effective and minimally invasive method for the treatment of extracranial carotid artery stenosis. The aim of the present study was to explore independent risk factors to predict cerebrovascular events following CAS to identify high-risk patients and improve the safety of CAS in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HISPANIAS is a national prospective multicenter study that included 14 hospitals that collected data from patients who underwent CAS. We analyzed morbidity and mortality within 30 days after CAS, looking for factors that might be associated with cerebrovascular events (stroke and transient ischemic attack [TIA]).

RESULTS

The HISPANIAS cohort included 757 patients: 80.32% were men, the mean age was 70.73 years, and 82.96% underwent symptomatic CAS. Cerebrovascular complications occurred in 42 patients (5.6%), including TIA in 24 patients (70.8% ipsilateral; mean 2.79 days after CAS) and stroke in 18 patients (72.2% ipsilateral; mean 6.72 days after CAS). The main independent clinical predictors of stroke/TIA identified by logistic regression were female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.29, 95% CI 1.15-4.54) and diabetes (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.71-6.40). Survival analysis showed that diabetic women, compared with the rest of the patients, had a higher number of events concentrated mainly in the first days after the intervention (p=0.003).

CONCLUSION

Cerebrovascular ischemic complications after CAS continue to be a challenge for the management of these patients. Although there are other factors, female sex and the presence of diabetes are emerging as strong risk factors for the development of complications after symptomatic CAS.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an effective and minimally invasive method for the treatment of extracranial carotid artery stenosis. Although CAS has been regarded as a reliable and safety approach, some studies reported that CAS was associated with a higher risk of procedure-related stroke. Cerebrovascular complications after CAS continue to be a main problem and a challenge for the management of these patients. Therefore, it is essential to identify the factors involved in the development of these complications. Our study shows that the combination of female sex and diabetes is associated with a clearly worse outcome, with a greater number of events concentrated mainly in the first days. This is different from other studies that have explored each factor separately. It would be interesting to perform separate interventions for this group given the increased risk of complications.

The impact of diabetes mellitus on carotid artery stenting: a meta-analysis

Diabetes is considered to be one of the important factors affecting the prognosis of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA), but its effect on carotid stenting (CAS) has not been determined. We performed this analysis to evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on carotid stenting. Studies were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for all available studies comparing the outcomes of diabetic and nondiabetic patients who underwent CAS. A meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with RevMan 5.3 software. Five studies with high quality were ultimately included. A total of 3364 patients underwent CAS, including 1042 diabetic patients and 2322 nondiabetic patients. Meta-analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the risk of perioperative stroke(OR,1.20;95%CI,0.74-1.97;P = 0.46;I² = 24%), transient ischemic attack(TIA)(OR,1.46;95%CI,0.80-2.66;P=0.22;I²=37%), myocardial infarction(MI)(OR,1.12;95%CI,0.47-2.67;P=0.80;I²=0%), mortality (OR,1.77;95%CI,0.91-3.42;P = 0.09;I²=0%), and composite of stroke or death (OR,1.26;95%CI,0.87-1.81;P = 0.22;I²=35%) between diabetic and nondiabetic patients receiving CAS. Sensitivity analysis showed that the meta-analysis results of all outcome events were stable. Compared with nondiabetic patients, diabetes did not increase the risk of the following: perioperative stroke, TIA, MI, mortality, and composite of stroke or death in patients receiving CAS. This study may be used to guide carotid artery stenosis patients with diabetes to choose the optimal treatment option. However, due to the limited number of studies and the different technical levels of institutions, the results should be interpreted caution.

Diabetes and carotid artery disease: a narrative review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been linked to an increased prevalence and severity of carotid artery disease, as well as polyvascular disease. Carotid disease is also associated with obesity and abnormal peri-organ and intra-organ fat (APIFat) deposition (i.e., excess fat accumulation in several organs such as the liver, heart and vessels). In turn, DM is associated with APIFat. The coexistence of these comorbidities confers a greater risk of vascular events. Clinicians should also consider that carotid bruits may predict cardiovascular risk. DM has been related to a greater risk of adverse outcomes after carotid endarterectomy or stenting. Whether modifying risk factors (e.g., glycaemia and dyslipidaemia) in DM patients can improve the outcomes of these procedures needs to be established. Furthermore, DM is a risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). The latter should be recorded in DM patients undergoing carotid stenting since it can influence both short- and long-term outcomes. From a pathophysiological perspective, functional changes in the carotid artery may precede morphological ones. Furthermore, carotid plaque characteristics are increasingly being studied in terms of vascular risk stratification and monitoring short-term changes attributed to treatment. The present narrative review discusses the recent (2019) literature on the associations between DM and carotid artery disease. Physicians and vascular surgeons looking after patients with carotid disease and DM should consider these links that may influence outcomes. Further research in this field is also needed to optimise the treatment of such patients.

Neurologic complications in patients with carotid artery stenting

Objective

Carotid artery stenting is helpful in patients with carotid artery stenosis and is a common method of treatment. However, data on the neurological consequences that might arise from, especially Asian patients after CAS is not enough. The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome and prognostic factors affecting CAS patients.

Methods

From January 2013 to June 2018 it was enrolled 97 patients who underwent CAS with severe carotid artery stenosis in a single institution. We retrospectively reviewed neurologic complications such as restenosis, ipsilateral or contralateral stroke, and hyperperfusion during the 6-month follow-up period.

Results

There were no complication occured during the procedure in all 97 patients. Neurologic complications occurred in 30 patients (30.9%) after the procedure, and ipsilateral stroke 6 (6.2%), contralateral stroke 9 (9.4%), restenosis 2 (2.1%) and hyperperfusion 13 respectively. One of them had died (1.0%), of which the rest were discharged after symptoms improve. On univariate analysis, DM and pre-op NIHSS score was associated with the risk of CAS complication, exclusively. On the binary logistic regression for risk factors, DM (OR 0.144, 95% CI [0.029-0.718]), history of radiotheraphy (OR 36.103, 95% CI [1.009-1291.789]) and preoperative NIHSS (OR 1.266, 95% CI [1.059-1.513]) showed independent risk factors associated with post procedural neurological complications, statistically.

Conclusion

Carotid artery stenting is a relatively safe and reliable long-term outcome for patients with carotid artery stenosis. However, careful observation should be taken after procedure immediately for any possible complications.

Association Between Cannabis Use and Complications Related to Crohn's Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic inflammatory process that is occasionally associated with complications, which cause significant morbidity and mortality. The anti-inflammatory effect of cannabis in intestinal inflammation has been shown in several experimental models; it is unknown whether this correlates with fewer complications in Crohn's disease patients.

AIMS

To compare the prevalence of Crohn's disease-related complications among cannabis users and non-users in patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of Crohn's disease or a primary diagnosis of Crohn's related complication and a secondary diagnosis of Crohn's disease between 2012 and 2014.

METHODS

We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample. Cannabis users (615) were compared directly after propensity score match to non-users, in aspects of various complications and clinical end-points.

RESULTS

Among matched cohorts, Cannabis users were less likely to have the following: active fistulizing disease and intra-abdominal abscess (11.5% vs. 15.9%; aOR 0.68 [0.49 to 0.94], p = 0.025), blood product transfusion (5.0% vs. 8.0%; aOR 0.48 [0.30 to 0.79], p = 0.037), colectomy (3.7% vs. 7.5%; aOR 0.48 [0.29-0.80], p = 0.004), and parenteral nutrition requirement (3.4% vs. 6.7%, aOR 0.39 [0.23 to 0.68], p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Cannabis use may mitigate several of the well-described complications of Crohn's disease among hospital inpatients. These effects could possibly be through the effect of cannabis in the endocannabinoid system.

Association between cannabis use and complications related to ulcerative colitis in hospitalized patients: A propensity matched retrospective cohort study

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory process that is occasionally associated with complications that cause significant morbidity and mortality. Studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated a beneficial effect of cannabis on intestinal inflammation. It is however unknown if this corresponds to fewer complications for patients with Ulcerative Colitis.We aimed to compare the prevalence of UC related complications and certain key clinical endpoints among cannabis users and nonusers hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of UC, or primary diagnosis of a UC-related complication with a secondary diagnosis of UC.Using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample (NIS) during 2010-2014, a total of 298 cannabis users with UC were compared to a propensity score matched group of nonusers with UC. We evaluated several UC-related complications and clinical endpoints.Within our matched cohort, prevalence of partial or total colectomy was lower in cannabis users compared to nonusers (4.4% vs 9.7%, P = .010) and there was a trend toward a lower prevalence of bowel obstruction (6.4% vs 10.7%, P = .057). Cannabis users had shorter hospital length-of-stay (4.5 vs 5.7 days P < .007) compared to their nonuser counterparts.Cannabis use may mitigate some of the well described complications of UC among hospitalized patients. Our findings need further evaluation, ideally through more rigorous clinical trials.

Comparison of outcomes after carotid endarterectomy between type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients with significant carotid stenosis

BACKGROUND

We aimed to compare early and late outcomes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) between Korean type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to investigate the impact of diabetes on the overall incidence of cardiovascular events after CEA.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 675 CEAs, which were performed on 613 patients with significant carotid stenosis between January 2007 and December 2014. The CEAs were divided into a type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n = 265, 39.3%) and a non-DM group (n = 410, 60.7%). The study outcomes included the incidence of major adverse events (MAEs), defined as fatal or nonfatal stroke or myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality, during the perioperative period and within 4 years after CEA.

RESULTS

Patients in the DM and non-DM groups did not differ significantly in the incidence of MAEs or any of the individual MAE manifestations during the perioperative period. However, within 4 years after CEA, the difference in the MAE incidence was significantly greater in the DM group (P = 0.040). Analysis of the individual MAE manifestations indicated a significantly higher risk of stroke in the DM group (P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis indicated that diabetes was not associated with MAEs or individual MAE manifestations during the perioperative period, whereas within 4 years after CEA, diabetes was an independent risk factor for MAEs overall (hazard ratio [HR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.48; P = 0.026) and stroke (HR, 2.55; 95% CI 1.20-5.41; P = 0.015) in particular.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic patients were not at greater risk of perioperative MAEs after CEA; however, the risk of late MAE occurrence was significantly greater in these patients. Within 4 years after CEA, DM was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of MAEs overall and stroke in particular.

Is diabetes a marker of higher risk after carotid revascularization? Experience from a single centre

PURPOSE

This single centre study investigates the influence of diabetes mellitus on outcomes following carotid artery endarterectomy or stenting.

METHODS

In total, 752 carotid revascularizations (58.2% carotid artery stenting and 41.8% carotid endarterectomy) were performed in 221 (29.4%) patients with diabetes and 532 (70.6%) patients without diabetes. The study outcomes were death, disabling and non-disabling stroke, transient ischaemic attack and restenosis within 36 months after the procedure.

RESULTS

Patients with diabetes had higher periprocedural risk of any stroke or death (3.6% diabetes vs 0.6% no diabetes; p < 0.05), transient ischaemic attack (1.8% diabetes vs 0.2% no diabetes; p > 0.05) and restenosis (2.7% diabetes vs 0.6% no diabetes; p < 0.05). During long-term follow-up, there were no significant differences in Kaplan-Meier estimates of freedom from death, any stroke and transient ischaemic attack, between people with and without diabetes for each carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy subgroup. Patients with diabetes showed higher rates of restenosis during follow-up than patients without diabetes (36-months estimate risk of restenosis: 21.2% diabetes vs 12.5% no diabetes; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The presence of diabetes was associated with increased periprocedural risk, but no further additional risk emerged during longer term follow-up. Restenosis rates were higher among patients with diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus and stroke: A clinical update

Cardiovascular disease including stroke is a major complication that tremendously increases the morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM poses about four times higher risk for stroke. Cardiometabolic risk factors including obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia often co-exist in patients with DM that add on to stroke risk. Because of the strong association between DM and other stroke risk factors, physicians and diabetologists managing patients should have thorough understanding of these risk factors and management. This review is an evidence-based approach to the epidemiological aspects, pathophysiology, diagnostic work up and management algorithms for patients with diabetes and stroke.