High variability in bodyweight is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide cohort study

Association between fluctuations in blood cholesterol levels and the risk of suicide death in the general population

OBJECTIVE

Suicide is a pressing global public health issue. While recent studies have explored the association between serum cholesterol levels and suicide risk, the association between cholesterol variability and suicide risk is not well characterized.

METHODS

This was a nationwide population-based cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. A total of 1,983,701 patients with at least three measurements of TC between 2004 and 2009 were included. Participants were followed until death by suicide or the study's end in December 2021. Participants were categorized based on baseline TC or TC variability. TC variability was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM), and average successive variability (ASV).

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 11 years, 5883 (0.3 %) patients died by suicide. Compared to subjects with TC <200 mg/dL, those with TC ≥240 mg/dL had a lower risk of suicide death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.85, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 0.78-0.93). In the unadjusted model, the HR for suicide death in the highest quartile (Q4) compared to the lowest quartile (Q1) of TC variability was 1.36 (95 % CI: 1.26-1.46). After adjusting for potential confounders, high variability in TC levels was associated with a higher risk of suicide death (HR 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.18-1.37). When analyzed based on the combination of TC baseline and variability, the highest quartile of TC variability showed a higher rate of suicide death compared to the lowest quartile, regardless of baseline TC level.

CONCLUSION

High TC variability and low TC levels were associated with an increased risk of suicide.

BMI variability and cardiovascular outcomes within clinical trial and real-world environments in type 2 diabetes: an IMI2 SOPHIA study

BACKGROUND

BMI variability has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes, however comparison between clinical studies and real-world observational evidence has been lacking. Furthermore, it is not known whether BMI variability has an effect independent of HbA1c variability.

METHODS

We investigated the association between BMI variability and 3P-MACE risk in the Harmony Outcomes trial (n = 9198), and further analysed placebo arms of REWIND (n = 4440) and EMPA-REG OUTCOME (n = 2333) trials, followed by real-world data from the Tayside Bioresource (n = 6980) using Cox regression modelling. BMI variability was determined using average successive variability (ASV), with first major adverse cardiovascular event of non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death (3P-MACE) as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, a + 1 SD increase in BMI variability was associated with increased 3P-MACE risk in Harmony Outcomes (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.17, P < 0.001). The most variable quartile of participants experienced an 87% higher risk of 3P-MACE (P < 0.001) relative to the least variable. Similar associations were found in REWIND and Tayside Bioresource. Further analyses in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial did not replicate this association. BMI variability's impact on 3P-MACE risk was independent of HbA1c variability.

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with type 2 diabetes, increased BMI variability was found to be an independent risk factor for 3P-MACE across cardiovascular outcome trials and real-world datasets. Future research should attempt to establish a causal relationship between BMI variability and cardiovascular outcomes.

Association between fatty liver index and risk of end-stage renal disease stratified by kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes: A nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVE

The effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remain unclear. We investigated the association between the fatty liver index (FLI) and risk of ESRD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This population-based observational cohort study enrolled patients with diabetes who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012 and utilized data from the Korean National Health Insurance Services. The FLI functioned as a surrogate marker for the presence of hepatic steatosis. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Incident ESRD developed in 19,476 of 1,900,598 patients with type 2 diabetes during a median follow-up of 7.2 years. After adjusting for conventional risk factors, patients with high FLI scores had a higher risk for ESRD: FLI, 30-59 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.124; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.083-1.166]; FLI ≥ 60 [HR = 1.278; 95% CI, 1.217-1.343] compared with those with FLI < 30. The association between a high FLI score (≥ 60) and incident ESRD was more prominent in women than in men (male, FLI ≥60: HR, 1.106; 95% CI = 1.041-1.176 and female, FLI ≥ 60: HR, 1.835; 95% CI = 1.689-1.995). The association between a high FLI score (≥ 60) and the risk of ESRD differed according to baseline kidney function. High FLI scores increased the risk of ESRD (HR = 1.268; 95% CI, 1.198-1.342) in patients with CKD at baseline.

CONCLUSION

High FLI scores are associated with a greater risk of ESRD in patients with type 2 diabetes with CKD at baseline. Close monitoring and appropriate management of hepatic steatosis may aid in preventing the progression of kidney dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD.

The association between alcohol consumption and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma according to glycemic status in Korea: A nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol and diabetes are known risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, it is unclear whether the association between alcohol consumption and HCC risk differs by fasting serum glucose level and diabetes. We investigated the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of HCC according to glycemic status.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This population-based observational cohort study included patients who underwent general health checkups in 2009 using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database. The primary outcome was HCC incidence, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to estimate the relationship between alcohol consumption and HCC risk according to glycemic status. A total of 34,321 patients newly diagnosed with HCC were observed in the median follow-up period of 8.3 years. In the multivariable model, we adjusted for age, sex, smoking, regular exercise, income, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and body mass index. Mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption increased the risk of HCC in all glycemic statuses (normoglycemia: hazard ratio [HR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.10; prediabetes: HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.24; and diabetes: HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.93 to 2.11) compared to normoglycemic nondrinking. Heavy alcohol consumption also increased the risk of HCC in all glycemic statuses (normoglycemia: HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.46; prediabetes: HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.58 to 1.77; and diabetes: HR, 3.29; 95% CI, 3.11 to 3.49) compared to normoglycemic nondrinking. Since alcohol consumption information in this study was based on a self-administered questionnaire, there may be a possibility of underestimation. Although we excluded patients with a history of viral hepatitis using diagnosis codes, we could not obtain information on hepatitis B or hepatitis C serum markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Both mild-to-moderate and heavy alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of HCC in all glycemic statuses. The increased risk of HCC according to alcohol consumption was the highest in the diabetes group, suggesting that more intensive alcohol abstinence is required for patients with diabetes.

Weight variability and diabetes complications

Body weight is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). More recently, weight variability, i.e. the oscillation of body weight over time, has also been suggested to be independently associated with development of CVD and mortality in subjects without diabetes and in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In T2D, weight variability emerged as one of the most relevant risk factors for CVD and it was suggested to interact with the variability of other risk factors to identify people at high cardiovascular risk. In addition, weight variability seems also to confer a higher risk for microvascular complications in people with T2D. While the exact mechanism linking weight variability to CVD is unknown, evidence from experimental models suggests that weight cycling promote an enduring pro-inflammatory program in the adipose tissue. Here we review the clinical evidence relative to the association of weight variability with CVD and microvascular complications of diabetes. We then briefly summarize the alterations proposed to explain this association. Finally, we synthesize the possible strategies, e.g. specific dietetic regimens and available glucose-lowering drugs, to minimize weight fluctuations.

Weight variability and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The association between body weight variability and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been investigated previously with mixed findings. However, there has been no extensive study which systematically evaluates the current evidence. Furthermore, the impact of ethnicity and type 2 diabetes on this phenomena has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the effect of weight variability on risk of CVD (any cardiovascular (CV) event, composite CV outcome, CV death, Stroke, Myocardial Infarction) and the influence of ethnicity and type 2 diabetes status on the observed association. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the meta-analyses of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. The electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies that investigated the relationship between body weight or BMI variability and CV diseases using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords. The relative risks (RRs) for the outcomes were collected from studies, pooled, and analysed using a random-effects model to estimate the overall relative risk. Of 5645 articles screened, 23 studies with a total population of 15,382,537 fulfilled the prespecified criteria and were included. Individuals in the highest strata of body weight variability were found to have significantly increased risk of any CV event (RR = 1.27; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.17-1.38; P < 0.0001; I² = 97.28%), cardiovascular death (RR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.60; P < 0.0001; I² = 55.16%), myocardial infarction (RR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.09-1.59; P = 0.0037; I² = 97.14%), stroke (RR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.19-1.24; P < 0.0001; I² = 0.06%), and compound CVD outcomes (RR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.08-1.73; P = 0.01; I² = 92.41%). Similar RRs were observed regarding BMI variability and per unit standard deviation (SD) increase in body weight variability. Comparable effects were seen in people with and without diabetes, in White Europeans and Asians. In conclusion, body weight variability is associated with increased risk of CV diseases regardless of ethnicity or diabetes status. Future research is needed to prove a causative link between weight variability and CVD risk, as appropriate interventions to maintain stable weight could positively influence CVD.

Associations between migraine and major cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Migraine is one of the most common primary headache disorders and a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between migraine and major cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), and cardiovascular death (CVD) in people with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 2,229,598 people from the nationwide Korean National Health Insurance Service database with type 2 diabetes but without a previous history of MI and IS were included in this study. We identified patients over 20 years of age with migraine using the claim data of International Statistical Classification of Diseases Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code G43. The patients with migraine were divided according to their migraine aura status.

RESULTS

Migraine was present in 6.3% of the study population. Cases observed for MI, IS, CVD, and all-cause death were 2.6%, 3.6%, 5.9%, and 7.9%, respectively. The diagnosis of migraine was significantly associated with an increased risk of MI, IS, and CVD. The results remained significant after adjusting for covariates, including age, sex, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking habits, physical activity, economic status, hypertension history, dyslipidemia, and duration of type 2 diabetes (MI, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.182, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.146-1.219; IS, aHR: 1.111, 95% CI 1.082-1.14; CVD, aHR: 1.143, 95% CI 1.12-1.167). In particular, the presence of aura was associated with a higher risk of MI development compared to the non-aura group. The difference became more prominent with progressing age.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide population-based study, people with type 2 diabetes and migraines were found to be at a significantly higher risk for major cardiovascular events, including MI, IS, and CVD. The risk of MI and CVD significantly increased with the presence of aura symptoms among patients with migraine.

The association of fatty liver index and BARD score with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) commonly coexist. However, NAFLD's effect on mortality in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes awaits full elucidation. Therefore, we examined NAFLD-related all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationwide Asian population with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We included patients who had undergone general health checkups between 2009 and 2012 using the National Health Insurance Service database linked to death-certificate data. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a fatty liver index (FLI) ≥ 60, and advanced hepatic fibrosis was determined using the BARD score.

FINDINGS

During the follow-up period of 8.1 years, 222,242 deaths occurred, with a mortality rate of 14.3/1000 person-years. An FLI ≥ 60 was significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality including cardiovascular disease (CVD)-, cancer-, and liver disease (FLI ≥ 60: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.03 for all-cause; 1.07, 1.04-1.10 for CVD; 1.12, 1.09-1.14 for cancer; and 2.63, 2.50-2.77 for liver disease). Those with an FLI ≥ 60 and fibrosis (BARD ≥ 2) exhibited increased risks of all-cause (HR, 95% CI 1.11, 1.10-1.12), CVD- (HR, 95% CI 1.11, 1.09-1.14), cancer- (HR, 95% CI 1.17, 1.15-1.19), and liver disease-related (HR, 95% CI 2.38, 2.29-2.49) mortality.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic steatosis and advanced fibrosis were significantly associated with risks of overall and cause-specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Our results provide evidence that determining the presence of hepatic steatosis and/or fibrosis potentially plays a role in risk stratification of mortality outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 Diabetes Incidence and Mortality: Associations with Physical Activity, Fitness, Weight Loss, and Weight Cycling

Cardiometabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), are the leading cause of death globally. Because T2D and obesity are strongly associated, weight loss is the cornerstone of treatment. However, weight loss is rarely sustained, which may lead to weight cycling, which is associated with increased mortality risk in patients with T2D. Meta-analyses show that weight loss is not generally associated with reduced mortality risk in T2D, whereas weight cycling is associated with increased all-cause and CVD mortality. This may be attributable in part to increased variability in CVD risk factors that often accompany weight cycling, which studies show is consistently associated with adverse CVD outcomes in patients with T2D. The inconsistent associations between weight loss and mortality risk in T2D, and consistent findings of elevated mortality risk associated with weight cycling, present a conundrum for a weight-loss focused T2D prevention and treatment strategy. This is further complicated by the findings that among patients with T2D, mortality risk is lowest in the body mass index (BMI) range of ~25-35 kg/ m 2 . Because this "obesity paradox" has been consistently demonstrated in 7 meta-analyses, the lower mortality risk for individuals with T2D in this BMI range may not be all that paradoxical. Physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and muscular fitness (MF) are all associated with reduced risk of T2D, and lower risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in individuals with T2D. Reducing sedentary behavior, independent of PA status, also is strongly associated with reduced risk of T2D. Improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors with exercise training are comparable to those observed in weight loss interventions, and are largely independent of weight loss. To minimize risks associated with weight cycling, it may be prudent to adopt a weight-neutral approach for prevention and treatment of individuals with obesity and T2D by focusing on increasing PA and improving CRF and MF without a specific weight loss goal.

Combined Effects of Chronic Kidney Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease on the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Diabetes

Background: We investigated the combined effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients with diabetes who participated in health screenings from 2009 to 2011 were included. The fatty liver index (FLI) was used as a surrogate marker for NAFLD. Results: During a mean follow-up of 6.9 years, 40,863 incidents of myocardial infarction (MI), 58,427 strokes, and 116,977 deaths were reported in 1,607,232 patients with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for conventional risk factors, patients with CKD and NAFLD showed the highest risk of MI and stroke (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42–1.57 and stroke, HR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.41–1.54, respectively) compared with those without either CKD or NAFLD. Both overall and cardiovascular mortality were highest in the CKD/NAFLD group compared with other groups (HR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.94–2.06, and HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 2.07–2.35, respectively). Advanced liver fibrosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD in patients with NAFLD. Proteinuria was significantly associated with incidence of CVD events in patients with CKD. Conclusions: The combination of CKD and NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of CVD and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Close monitoring and appropriate management of CKD and NAFLD may be warranted to prevent CVD in these patients.

Association of magnitude of weight loss and weight variability with mortality and major cardiovascular events among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Weight management is strongly promoted for overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) by current guidelines. However, the prognostic impact of weight loss achieved without behavioural intervention on the mortality and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in diabetic patients is still contested.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that investigated the association of weight loss or weight variability with mortality and CV outcomes. Results of studies that measured weight loss by percentage weight loss from baseline and stratified it as > 10% and 5–10% or studies that computed weight variability were pooled using random effects model. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.

Results

Thirty eligible studies were included in the systematic review and 13 of these were included in the meta-analysis. Large weight loss (> 10%) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (pooled hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 95% CI 1.51–3.42), composite of major CV events (pooled HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.38–2.12) and CV mortality (pooled HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.27–1.76) among T2DM patients. Moderate weight loss showed no significant association with all-cause mortality (pooled HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.97–1.41) or CV outcomes (pooled HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.94–1.33). Weight variability was associated with high hazard of all-cause mortality (pooled HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.52–1.56).

Conclusions

Large weight loss and large fluctuations in weight are potential markers of increased risk of mortality and CV events in T2DM patients. Maintaining a stable weight may have positive impact in these patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01503-x.

U-Shaped Associations Between Body Weight Changes and Major Cardiovascular Events in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Longitudinal Follow-up Study of a Nationwide Cohort of Over 1.5 Million

OBJECTIVE

Despite the benefits of weight loss on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), its association with myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), and all-cause death remains elusive.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using the National Health Insurance Service Database, we screened subjects who underwent general health checkups twice in a 2-year interval between 2009 and 2012. After identifying 1,522,241 patients with T2DM without a previous history of MI, IS, AF, and HF, we followed them until December 2018. Patients were stratified according to the magnitude of weight changes between two general health checkups: ≤ -10%, -10 to ≤ -5%, -5 to ≤5%, 5 to ≤10%, and >10%.

RESULTS

During the follow-up (median 7.0 years), 32,106 cases of MI, 44,406 cases of IS, 34,953 cases of AF, 68,745 cases of HF, and 84,635 all-cause deaths occurred. Patients with weight changes of -5 to ≤5% showed the lowest risk of each cardiovascular event. Both directions of weight change were associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Stepwise increases in the risks of MI, IS, AF, HF, and all-cause death were noted with progressive weight gain (all P < 0.0001). Similarly, the more weight loss occurred, the higher the cardiovascular risks observed (all P < 0.0001). The U-shaped associations were consistently observed in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Explorative subgroup analyses also consistently showed a U-shaped association.

CONCLUSIONS

Both weight loss and gain >5% within a 2-year interval were associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with T2DM.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on the outcomes of subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A nationwide cohort study

AIMS

Diabetes mellitus (DM) often coexists in elderly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients; however, its impact on clinical outcomes is unclear.

METHODS

We compared clinical outcomes according to the presence of DM in a nationwide HCM cohort.

RESULTS

In 9,883 HCM subjects (mean age 58.5 ± 13.1, men 71.7%), 1,327 (13.4%) had DM. During follow-up (mean 5.9 ± 2.5 years), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) progression, coronary events (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization), heart failure (HF), cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality occurred in 80 (0.8%), 365 (3.7%), 1,558 (15.8%), 354 (3.6%), and 877 (8.9%) subjects, respectively. DM HCM subjects had significantly higher risks of ESRD progression (HR 3.49, 95% CI 2.20-5.54) and HF (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32) compared to non-DM HCM subjects, independent of age, sex, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and other comorbidities. There was a tendency for greater risk of ESRD progression, HF, and all-cause death in subjects with more advanced stage of DM (p-for-trend < 0.05 for all). Insulin-treated DM was associated with the highest risk.

CONCLUSIONS

DM HCM subjects have higher risk of ESRD progression and HF. Considering the extended life expectancy of HCM and increasing number of elderly HCM subjects, active surveillance and management of DM-related outcomes should be highlighted.

Underweight is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation in Asian people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obesity commonly accompanies T2DM, and increases the risk of AF. However, the dose-relationship between body mass index (BMI) and AF risk has seldom been studied in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

This cohort study utilized a database from National Taiwan University Hospital, a tertiary medical center in Taiwan. Between 2014 and 2019, 64,339 adult patients with T2DM were enrolled for analysis. BMI was measured and categorized as underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24), overweight (24 ≤ BMI < 27), obesity class 1 (27 ≤ BMI < 30), obesity class 2 (30 ≤ BMI < 35), or obesity class 3 (BMI ≥ 35). Multivariate Cox regression and spline regression models were employed to estimate the relationship between BMI and the risk of AF in patients with T2DM.

RESULTS

The incidence of AF was 1.97 per 1000 person-years (median follow-up, 70.7 months). In multivariate Cox regression, using normal BMI as the reference group, underweight (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.87, p < 0.001) was associated with a significantly higher risk of AF, while overweight was associated with significantly reduced risk of AF (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.89, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed AF risk was highest in the underweight group, followed by obesity class 3, while the overweight group had the lowest incidence of AF (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The cubic restrictive spline model revealed a "J-shaped" or "L-shaped" relationship between BMI and AF risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Underweight status confers the highest AF risk in Asian patients with T2DM.

Metabolically healthy obesity and cardiovascular events: A nationwide cohort study

AIM

To evaluate the associations between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and different types of incident cardiovascular events in a contemporary population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients discharged from French hospitals in 2013 with at least 5 years of follow-up and without a history of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE; myocardial infarction, heart failure [HF], ischaemic stroke or cardiovascular death [MACE-HF]) or underweight/malnutrition were identified. They were categorized by phenotypes defined by obesity and three metabolic abnormalities (diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia). Hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular events during follow-up were adjusted on age, sex and smoking status at baseline.

RESULTS

In total, 2 873 039 individuals were included in the analysis, among whom 272 838 (9.5%) had obesity. During a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, when pooling men and women, individuals with MHO had a higher risk of MACE-HF (multivariate-adjusted HR 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-1.24), new-onset HF (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.31-1.37) and atrial fibrillation (AF; HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.30-1.37) compared with individuals with no obesity and zero metabolic abnormalities. By contrast, risks were not higher for myocardial infarction (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.98), ischaemic stroke (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98) and cardiovascular death (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.93-1.04). MHO in men was associated with a higher risk of clinical events compared with metabolically healthy men of normal weight (HR 1.12-1.80), while women with MHO had a lower risk for most events than metabolically healthy women of normal weight (HR 0.49-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large and contemporary analysis of patients seen in French hospitals, individuals with MHO did not have a higher risk of myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke or cardiovascular death than metabolically healthy individuals with no obesity. By contrast, they had a higher risk of new-onset HF and new-onset AF. However, notable differences were observed in men and women in the sex-stratified analysis.

Increased metabolic variability is associated with newly diagnosed depression: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The effect of dynamic changes in metabolic parameters over time on the development of depression has yet to be examined. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between the variability of metabolic parameters and the development of depression using nationally representative data.

METHODS

We used health examination data provided by the South Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) and included those who underwent the examination ≥ 3 times within five years of enrollment, without a previous history of depression (n = 9,058,424). The variability of each metabolic parameter including weight circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels was estimated using variability independent of mean (VIM) indices. High variability was defined as the highest quartile (Q4) of variability.

RESULTS

Each metabolic parameter with high variability was associated with a higher risk of newly diagnosed depression compared to those with low variability, after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, income status, baseline diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. As the number of highly variable metabolic parameters increased, the risk for newly diagnosed depression increased even after adjusting for the aforementioned covariates (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3 - 1.4 in those with five highly variable parameters compared to those with no highly variable parameter).

LIMITATIONS

relatively short observation period; no systematic measure of depression severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the variability of metabolic parameters is an independent risk factor for depression.

Assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without diabetic foot: correlations with endothelial dysfunction indices and markers of adipo-inflammatory dysfunction

Background

Some studies have suggested that patients with diabetes and foot complications have worse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk profiles, higher degrees of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness and a higher inflammatory background than patients with diabetes without diabetic foot complications. Patients with diabetes mellitus have an alteration in the sympathovagal balance as assessed by means of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, which is also related to the presence of endothelial dysfunction. Other studies suggest a possible role of inflammation coexisting with the alteration in the sympathovagal balance in favor of the atherosclerotic process in a mixed population of healthy subjects of middle and advanced age.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of alteration of sympathovagal balance, assessed by HRV analysis, in a cohort of patients with diabetes mellitus with diabetic foot and in control subjects without diabetic foot compared with a population of healthy subjects and the possible correlation of HRV parameters with inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction indices.

Methods

We enrolled all patients with diabetic ulcerative lesions of the lower limb in the Internal Medicine with Stroke Care ward and of the diabetic foot outpatient clinic of P. Giaccone University Hospital of Palermo between September 2019 and July 2020. 4-h ECG Holter was performed. The following time domain HRV measures were analyzed: average heart rate, square root of the mean of successive differences of NN (RMSSD), standard deviation or square root of the variance (SD), and standard deviation of the means of the NN intervals calculated over a five-minute period (SDANN/5 min). The LF/HF ratio was calculated, reactive hyperemia was evaluated by endo-PAT, and serum levels of vaspine and omentin-1 were assessed by blood sample collection.

Results

63 patients with diabetic foot, 30 patients with diabetes and without ulcerative complications and 30 patients without diabetes were enrolled. Patients with diabetic ulcers showed lower mean diastolic blood pressure values than healthy controls, lower MMSE scores corrected for age, lower serum levels of omentin-1, lower RHI values, higher body weight values and comparable body height values, HF% and LF/HF ratio values. We also reported a negative correlation between the RHI value and HRV indices and the expression of increased parasympathetic activity (RMSDD and HF%) in subjects with diabetic foot and a statistically significant positive correlation with the LF/HF ratio and the expression of the sympathovagal balance.

Discussion

Patients with diabetic foot show a higher degree of activation of the parasympathetic system, expressed by the increase in HF values, and a lower LF/HF ratio. Our findings may corroborate the issue that a parasympathetic dysfunction may have a possible additive role in the pathogenesis of other vascular complications in subjects with diabetic foot.

Weight change and risk of cardiovascular disease among adults with type 2 diabetes: more than 14 years of follow-up in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

BACKGROUND

To examine the impact of weight change on incident cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease (CVD/CHD) among an Iranian population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

The study population included 763 participants with T2DM aged ≥ 30 years without a history of CVD and cancer at baseline. Two weight measurements done at baseline and about 3 years later. Based on their weight change, they categorized into: > 5% loss, 3-5% loss, stable (± < 3%), 3-5% gain, > 5% gain. Participants were then followed for incident CVD/CHD annually up to 20 March 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, educational level, current smoking, glucose-lowering drug use, family history of CVD, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, chronic kidney disease, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were applied to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of weight change categories for incident CVD/CHD, considering stable weight as reference.

RESULTS

After the weight change measurement, during a median follow-up of 14.4 years, 258 CVD and 214 CHD occurred. Over 5% weight gain was associated with reduced risks of CVD and CHD development by the HRs of 0.70 [95% CI 0.48-1.01; P-value: 0.058] and 0.61 [0.40-0.93], respectively, in multivariable analysis. After further adjustment for FPG change, the HRs of weight gain > 5% were attenuated to 0.75 [0.51-1.10; P-value: 0.138] and 0.66 [043-1.01; P-value: 0.053] for incident CVD and CHD, respectively. The effect of weight loss > 5% was in opposite direction among those older versus younger than 60 years; with suggestive increased risk (not statistically significant) of incident CHD/CVD for the older group. Moreover, weight gain > 5% significantly reduced the risk of CHD only among those older than 60 years (P-value for interaction < 0.2). Furthermore, weight gain > 5% had an association with lower risk of CVD and CHD among sulfonylurea users (0.56 [0.32-0.98] for CVD and 0.54 [0.29-0.99] for CHD).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results with a long-term follow-up showed that weight gain > 5% was associated with better CVD/CHD outcomes among Iranian participants with T2DM, especially older ones. Moreover, we did not find an unfavorable impact on incident CVD/CHD for sulfonylurea-induced weight gain.

Sex, age, type of diabetes and incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus: a nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

There remain uncertainties regarding diabetes mellitus and the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), in relation to type of diabetes, and the interactions with sex and age. We investigated whether diabetes confers higher relative rates of AF in women compared to men, and whether these sex-differences depend on type of diabetes and age.

METHODS

All patients aged ≥ 18 seen in French hospitals in 2013 with at least 5 years of follow-up without a history of AF were identified and categorized by their diabetes status. We calculated overall and age-dependent incidence rates, hazard ratios, and women-to-men ratios for incidence of AF in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (compared to no diabetes).

RESULTS

In 2,921,407 patients with no history of AF (55% women), 45,389 had prevalent type 1 diabetes and 345,499 had prevalent type 2 diabetes. The incidence rates (IRs) of AF were higher in type 1 or type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetics, and increased with advancing age. Among individuals with diabetes, the absolute rate of AF was higher in men than in women. When comparing individuals with and without diabetes, women had a higher adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of AF than men: adjusted HR 1.32 (95% confidence interval 1.27-1.37) in women vs. 1.12(1.08-1.16) in men for type 1 diabetes, adjusted HR 1.17(1.16-1.19) in women vs. 1.10(1.09-1.12) in men for type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Although men have higher absolute rates for incidence of AF, the relative rates of incident AF associated with diabetes are higher in women than in men for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Cumulative burden of metabolic syndrome and its components on the risk of atrial fibrillation: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components are associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the impact of time-burden of MetS on the risk of AF is unknown. We investigated the effect of the cumulative longitudinal burden of MetS on the development of AF.

METHODS

We included 2 885 189 individuals without AF who underwent four annual health examinations during 2009-2013 from the database of the Korean national health insurance service. Metabolic burdens were evaluated in the following three ways: (1) cumulative number of MetS diagnosed at each health examination (0-4 times); (2) cumulative number of each MetS component diagnosed at each health examination (0-4 times per MetS component); and (3) cumulative number of total MetS components diagnosed at each health examination (0 to a maximum of 20). The risk of AF according to the metabolic burden was estimated using Cox proportional-hazards models.

RESULTS

Of all individuals, 62.4%, 14.8%, 8.7%, 6.5%, and 7.6% met the MetS diagnostic criteria 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 times, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 5.3 years, the risk of AF showed a positive association with the cumulative number of MetS diagnosed over four health examinations: adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1, 2, 3, and 4 times compared to 0 times were 1.18 (1.13-1.24), 1.31 (1.25-1.39), 1.46 (1.38-1.55), and 1.72 (1.63-1.82), respectively; P for trend < 0.001. All five components of MetS, when diagnosed repeatedly, were independently associated with an increased risk of AF: adjusted HR (95% CI) from 1.22 (1.15-1.29) for impaired fasting glucose to 1.96 (1.87-2.07) for elevated blood pressure. As metabolic components were accumulated from 0 to 20 counts, the risk of AF also gradually increased up to 3.1-fold (adjusted HR 3.11, 95% CI 2.52-3.83 in those with 20 cumulative components of MetS), however, recovery from MetS was linked to a decreased risk of AF.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the positive correlations between the cumulative metabolic burdens and the risk of incident AF, maximal effort to detect and correct metabolic derangements even before MetS development might be important to prevent AF and related cardiovascular diseases.

On-demand mobile health infrastructures to allow comprehensive remote atrial fibrillation and risk factor management through teleconsultation

BACKGROUND

Although novel teleconsultation solutions can deliver remote situations that are relatively similar to face-to-face interaction, remote assessment of heart rate and rhythm as well as risk factors remains challenging in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

HYPOTHESIS

Mobile health (mHealth) solutions can support remote AF management.

METHODS

Herein, we discuss available mHealth tools and strategies on how to incorporate the remote assessment of heart rate, rhythm and risk factors to allow comprehensive AF management through teleconsultation.

RESULTS

Particularly, in the light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is decreased capacity to see patients in the outpatient clinic and mHealth has become an important component of many AF outpatient clinics. Several validated mHealth solutions are available for remote heart rate and rhythm monitoring as well as for risk factor assessment. mHealth technologies can be used for (semi-)continuous longitudinal monitoring or for short-term on-demand monitoring, dependent on the respective requirements and clinical scenarios. As a possible solution to improve remote AF care through teleconsultation, we introduce the on-demand TeleCheck-AF mHealth approach that allows remote app-based assessment of heart rate and rhythm around teleconsultations, which has been developed and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

CONCLUSION

Large scale international mHealth projects, such as TeleCheck-AF, will provide insight into the additional value and potential limitations of mHealth strategies to remotely manage AF patients. Such mHealth infrastructures may be well suited within an integrated AF-clinic, which may require redesign of practice and reform of health care systems.