Impact of Newly Diagnosed Abnormal Glucose Tolerance on Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Clinical Characteristics and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients with Vasospastic Angina

Purpose

The clinical background and prognostic impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on vasospastic angina (VSA) are unclear; thus, in this retrospective study, we investigated whether they differ based on the presence or absence of DM in patients with VSA.

Patients and Methods

We included 272 Japanese patients with VSA diagnosed by coronary angiography (CAG) and the spasm provocation test (SPT). The diagnosis of DM was determined by measuring fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C and by the patient's current oral medications. On CAG, the presence of atherosclerotic lesions (20%-50%) was checked. On SPT, the coronary spasm was defined as transient coronary vasoconstriction >90% on CAG, accompanied by chest symptoms and/or ST-T changes. Focal spasm was defined as coronary spasm occurring within one segment of the American Heart Association classification on CAG. Blood and urine tests and vascular endothelial function were also evaluated when possible. A major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which is defined as cardiac mortality and rehospitalization due to cardiovascular illness, was the basis for determining the prognosis.

Results

There were 49 patients (18%) in the DM group and 223 (82%) in the non-DM group. No significant differences in urinary albumin levels and peripheral vascular function were between groups. On CAG, atherosclerotic lesions were observed significantly more frequently in the DM group (63% vs 46%; P = 0.028). Results of SPT showed a trend toward fewer focal spasms in the DM group (24% vs 39%; P = 0.072). No significant differences in MACE were noted between groups in the primary analysis of DM, whereas sub-analyses of focal spasms showed lower MACE-free survival in the DM group (P = 0.042).

Conclusion

The study results support the hypothesis that DM associated with VSA should be treated appropriately, especially in cases of focal spasm, which may require more attention in treatment.

Long term prognostic implication of newly detected abnormal glucose tolerance among patients with stable cardiovascular disease: a population-based cohort study

Background

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h post challenge plasma glucose (2 h-PCPG), whether as continuous or categorical variables, are associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes; however, their role among patients with existing CVD is a matter of debate. We aimed to evaluate associations of different glucose intolerance states with recurrent CVD and incident diabetes among subjects with previous CVD.

Methods

From a prospective population-based cohort, 408 Iranians aged  ≥  30 years, with history of CVD and without known diabetes were included. Associations of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), newly diagnosed diabetes (NDM) with outcomes of interest were determined by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models after adjustment for traditional risk factors. Furthermore, FPG and 2 h-PCPG were entered as continuous variables.

Results

Over a decade of follow-up, 220 CVD events including 89 hard events (death, myocardial infarction and stroke) occurred. Regarding prediabetes, only IFG-ADA was associated with increased risk of hard CVD [hazard ratio(HR), 95%CI: 1.62,1.03–2.57] in the age-sex adjusted model. In patients with NDM, those with FPG ≥ 7 mmol/L were at higher risk of incident CVD/coronary heart disease(CHD) and their related hard outcomes (HR ranged from 1.89 to 2.84, all P < 0.05). Moreover, those with 2 h-PCPG ≥ 11.1 mmol/L had significant higher risk of CVD (1.46,1.02–2.11), CHD (1.46,1.00–2.15) and hard CHD (1.95:0.99–3.85, P = 0.05). In the fully adjusted model, each 1 SD increase in FPG was associated with 20, 27, 15 and 25% higher risk of CVD, hard CVD, CHD and hard CHD, respectively; moreover each 1 SD higher 2 h-PCPG was associated with 21% and 16% higher risk of CVD, and CHD, respectively. Among individuals free of diabetes at baseline (n = 361), IFG-ADA, IFG-WHO and IGT were significantly associated with incident diabetes (all P < 0.05); significant associations were also found for FPG and 2 h-PCPG as continuous variables (all HRs for 1-SD increase > 2, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Among subjects with stable CVD, NDM whether as high FPG or 2 h-PCPG, but not pre-diabetes status was significantly associated with CVD/CHD and related hard outcomes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-02950-y.

Postload glucose spike but not fasting glucose determines prognosis after myocardial infarction in patients without known or newly diagnosed diabetes

BACKGROUND

The effect of postload glucose spikes (PGS), the difference between 2 hour post-load plasma glucose (2hPLPG) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), on post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) prognosis in nondiabetic patients is unexplored.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort analysis of 847 nondiabetic post-MI survivors who underwent a predischarge oral glucose tolerance test (median PGS: 2.4 mmol/L). Patients were divided into the unmatched groups 1 and 2 (PGS ≤ and > 2.4 mmol/L) and the propensity score-matched groups 1M and 2M (355 pairs assembled from the overall cohort), and these groups were compared. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE: death and nonfatal reinfarction) were recorded during follow-up (median: 3.4 years). Event-free survival was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression determined the predictors of MACE. C-statistics (change in area under the curve, δAUC), continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI^>0 ), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to compare models.

RESULTS

The number of MACE was higher in groups 2 (27.3% vs 14.2%, P < .001) and 2M (24.5% vs 15.5%, P < .001). Event-free survival was worse in groups 2 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.01; 95% CI, 1.49-2.71; P < .001) and 2M (HR 1.63; 95% CI, 1.17-2.27; P = .004). PGS independently predicted MACE-free survival in the whole (HR 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26; P = .002) and matched cohort (HR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24; P = .021). PGS, but not FPG or 2hPPG, improved the predictive performance of the base model (δAUC 0.013, P = .046), with greater improvement seen when PGS was added and compared to 2hPPG (δAUC 0.005, P = .034; NRI^>0 0.2107, P = .013; IDI 0.0042, P = .046).

CONCLUSION

PGS is a better predictor of post-MI prognosis than 2hPPG in nondiabetic patients.

Comparison of oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c in detection of disorders of glucose metabolism in patients with acute stroke

Background

Diabetes is an increasingly important risk factor for ischemic stroke and worsens stroke prognosis. Yet a large proportion of stroke patients who are eventually diabetic are undiagnosed. Therefore, it is important to have sensitive assessment of unrecognized hyperglycaemia in stroke patients.

Design

Secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial focussing on parameters of glucose metabolism and detection of diabetes and prediabetes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

A total of 130 consecutively admitted patients with AIS without previously known type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were screened for diabetes or prediabetes as part of secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial that tested lifestyle intervention to prevent post-stroke cognitive decline. Patients had the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements in the second week after stroke onset and after 1 year. The detection rates of diabetes and prediabetes based on the OGTT or HbA1c values were compared.

Results

By any of the applied tests at the second week after stroke onset 62 of 130 patients (48%) had prediabetes or T2DM. Seventy-five patients had results from both tests available, the OGTT and HbA1c; according to the OGTT 40 (53.3%) patients had normal glucose metabolism, 33 (44%) had prediabetes, two (2.7%) T2DM. In 50 (66.7%) patients the HbA1c results were normal, 24 (32%) in the prediabetic and one (1.3%) in the diabetic range. The detection rate for disorders of glucose metabolism was 10% higher (absolute difference; relative difference 29%) with the OGTT compared with HbA1c. After 1 year the detection rate for prediabetes or T2DM was 7% higher with the OGTT (26% relative difference).

The study intervention led to a more favourable evolution of glycemic status after 1 year.

Conclusion

The OGTT is a more sensitive screening tool than HbA1c for the detection of previously unrecognized glycemic disorders in patients with acute stroke with an at least a 25% relative difference in detection rate. Therefore, an OGTT should be performed in all patients with stroke with no history of diabetes.

Trial registrationhttp://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01109836.

Newly Discovered Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of unrecognized abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) and the incidence of recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) has not been systematically evaluated.

PURPOSE

The purposes of this study were to define the prevalence of newly discovered AGT and examine the risk of recurrent major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality in patients with acute MI.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles.

STUDY SELECTION

Inclusion criteria included prospective studies in patients with acute MI without known history of diabetes; AGT diagnosed using fasting plasma glucose, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, or HbA_1c; and incidence of MACE and/or all-cause mortality in newly discovered AGT.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two investigators extracted the data. Pooled prevalence, incidence rate ratios, and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using random-effects models.

DATA SYNTHESIS

In 19 studies (n = 41,509, median follow-up 3.1 years), prevalence of newly discovered AGT was 48.4% (95% CI 40.2-56.6). Prediabetes had a higher mortality risk than normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (HR 1.36 [95% CI 1.13-1.63], P < 0.001) and MACE (1.42 [1.20-1.68], P < 0.001). Newly diagnosed diabetes had higher mortality risk than NGT (1.74 [1.48-2.05], P < 0.001) and MACE (1.54 [1.23-1.93], P < 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

This is not a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Time-to-event analysis and covariate-adjusted analysis cannot be conducted to examine heterogeneity reliably. Few studies reported CV death and heart failure hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acute MI have a high prevalence of newly discovered AGT. Aggressive risk reduction strategies in this population, especially in those with prediabetes, are warranted.

Newly diagnosed abnormal glucose tolerance determines post-MI prognosis in patients with hospital related hyperglycaemia but without known diabetes

AIMS

Investigate if abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) affects post-myocardial infarction (MI) prognosis in patients with hospital-related hyperglycaemia (HRH) but without known diabetes mellitus (KDM).

METHODS

Post-MI survivors without KDM underwent pre-discharge oral glucose tolerance test. Cardiovascular death and non-fatal re-infarction (MACE) were recorded. We compare the ability of admission (APG), fasting (FPG) and 2 h post-load (2 h-PG) plasma glucose to predict MACE in patients with (HRH) and without HRH (NoHRH).

RESULTS

50.2% and 73% of NoHRH and HRH had AGT respectively. MACE occurred in 19.5% and 18.1% in HRH and NoHRH groups. MACE-free survival was lower in patient with AGT in both groups (NoHRH: HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.19-2.78, p = 0.005; HRH: HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.24-4.96, p = 0.010). AGT predicted MACE-free survival (NoHRH: HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.02-2.51, p = 0.042; HRH: HR 3.09, 95% CI 1.07-8.94, p = 0.037). 2 h-PG, but not FPG or APG, independently predicted MACE free survival (NoHRH: HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.27, p ≤0.001 and HRH: HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.37, p = 0.020). Addition of AGT and 2 h-PG, not FPG or APG, improved net reclassification of events in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Post-MI prognosis is worse with AGT irrespective of presence of HRH. 2 h-PG, predicts prognosis in HRH and NoHRH groups.

Pre-diabetes mellitus newly diagnosed after myocardial infarction adversely affects prognosis in patients without known diabetes

BACKGROUND

Effect of pre-diabetes mellitus on post-myocardial infarction prognosis is unclear.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort analysis of 1056 myocardial infarction survivors with fasting plasma glucose and 2-h post-load plasma glucose measured. Major adverse cardiovascular events included death, non-fatal reinfarction and ischaemic stroke. Cox proportional hazard regression identified predictors of event-free survival. Continuous net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement determined the added predictive value of glycaemic indices.

RESULTS

Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 25.1% and 16.4% patients with and without pre-diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio with pre-diabetes mellitus: 1.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.17-2.08; p = 0.003) in the whole cohort and in 24.1% and 17.2% patients (hazard ratio with pre-diabetes mellitus, 1.43; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.98; p = 0.033) in the matched cohort, respectively. Pre-diabetes mellitus predicted major adverse cardiovascular events-free survival in whole (hazard ratio: 1.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.89; p = 0.033) and matched cohorts (hazard ratio: 1.42; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.99; p = 0.043). The 2-h post-load plasma glucose, but not fasting plasma glucose, predicted major adverse cardiovascular events-free survival in the whole (hazard ratio: 1.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.26; p < 0.0001) and matched cohorts (hazard ratio: 1.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.31; p < 0.0001). Adding 2-h post-load plasma glucose to models containing fasting plasma glucose, significantly improved net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement for both cohorts, but not vice versa.

CONCLUSION

Pre-diabetes mellitus predicts major adverse cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction. The 2-h post-load plasma glucose predicts prognosis better than fasting plasma glucose in these patients.

The prognostic effect of known and newly detected type 2 diabetes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Dysglycemia is a well-established risk factor of coronary artery disease. Less is known of the prognostic effect of dysglycemia in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with ACSs according to glucometabolic categories.

METHODS

Patients with ACSs were consecutively included in the study. Among those with no previous history of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) glucose metabolism was evaluated with fasting glucose in plasma, glycated hemoglobin and a standard 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Patients were classified having normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes, newly detected T2DM (nT2DM) and previously known T2DM (kT2DM). The clinical outcome parameters were death or myocardial infarction and other major adverse cardiac events (MACEs).

RESULTS

A total of 372 ACS patients (male 75.8%, 65.1 years (SD: 11.8)) constituted the study population. The proportion diagnosed with normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes, nT2DM and kT2DM was 20.7%, 46.5%, 6.2% and 26.6%, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 2.9 years. Patients with prediabetes, nT2DM and kT2DM had a hazard ratio of 5.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-44.6), 10.9 (95% CI 1.2-98.3) and 14.9 (95% CI 2.0-113.7), respectively, for death/myocardial infarction and 1.4 (95% CI 0.6-3.1), 2.9 (95% CI 1.1-8.0) and 3.3 (95% CI 1.5-7.6), respectively, for a composite of MACEs.

CONCLUSION

Patients with ACS and nT2DM or kT2DM were at increased risk of death/myocardial infarction and MACE compared with patients with normal glucose metabolism after approximately three years of follow-up.

Nerve conduction velocity is negatively associated with intima-media thickness and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective

Previous studies suggest that the presence of diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) is associated with atherosclerotic diseases; however, little is known about the relationship between diabetic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) versus arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis parameters.

Methods

The subjects in this study were 292 men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). All subjects underwent NCV examination at median and tibial nerves as motor nerve (MCV) as well as median and sural nerves as sensory nerve (SCV). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were evaluated as arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis parameters.

Results

Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed that NCV at all sites negatively correlated with baPWV, maximal and mean IMT (IMT-Max and IMT-Mean), and plaque score (all p values p<0.01 at least). Multiple regression analyses adjusted for confounding factors such as age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, HbA1c, fasting C-peptide, systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and albuminuria showed that the association of NCV with IMT-Max, ITM-Mean, and plaque score remained significant (all p values p<0.05 at least) except that between SCV at median and IMT-Max. Moreover, SCV at median (forearm) and sural were significantly associated with baPWV (p = 0.023 and p = 0.027, respectively).

Conclusion

The present study showed that DPN estimated by quantitative NCV is linearly associated with the deterioration of arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis parameters in T2DM independently of various diabetic and atherosclerotic factors.

The Accuracy of Point-of-Care Equipment for Glucose Measurement in Screening for Dysglycemia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND

Point-of-care equipment for measuring glucose saves time and costs for both patients and professionals and minimizes preanalytic errors when screening for or managing dysglycemia, that is, impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. The accuracy of such devices has, however, been questioned compared with analyses at an accredited hospital laboratory.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the agreement between glucose measurements made by the point-of-care HemoCue^® Glucose 201 RT System (HemoCue, Ängelholm, Sweden) and local hospital laboratories.

MATERIAL

Patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) recruited in Sweden and the United Kingdom within the auspices of the European Action on Secondary and primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) V survey (n = 87; 18-80 years) with or without previously known dysglycemia were investigated. Plasma glucose values collected in the fasting state (n = 85) and 60 (n = 57) and 120 (n = 72) min after a glucose load were analyzed both using HemoCue monitors and local hospital laboratories. The two measurement techniques were compared using a bias plot according to Bland-Altman, the surveillance error grid, and Spearman correlation test.

RESULTS

The bias plot method showed small differences between the HemoCue and local hospital laboratory methods, the HemoCue and central hospital laboratory, and the local hospital laboratories and the central hospital laboratory. In the surveillance error grid, 98.6% of the values were in the deep green zone, indicating no risk and the remaining values (1.4%) were within the light green zone, indicating "slight lower risk."

CONCLUSION

The HemoCue point-of-care system is accurate for dysglycemia screening in patients with CAD.

Two-hour post-challenge glucose is a better predictor of adverse outcome after myocardial infarction than fasting or admission glucose in patients without diabetes

AIMS

We evaluate prevalence of new abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) in post-MI survivors without known diabetes (DM) if guidelines are followed and compare the ability of admission (APG), fasting (FPG) and 2-h post-load plasma glucose (2h-PG) to predict prognosis.

METHODS

A total of 674 patients were followed up for 4 years for incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of cardiovascular death, non-fatal re-infarction or non-haemorrhagic stroke. Ability of models including APG, FPG and 2h-PG to predict MACE was compared.

RESULTS

Of the total, 93-96% of impaired glucose tolerance and 64-75% of DM would be missed with current guidelines. MACE was higher in the upper quartiles of 2h-PG. When 2h-PG and FPG were included simultaneously in models, only 2h-PG predicted MACE (HR 1.12, CI 1.04-1.20, p = 0.0012), all cause mortality (HR 1.17, CI 1.05-1.30, p = 0.0039), cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.17, CI 1.02-1.33, p = 0.0205) and non-fatal MI (HR 1.10, CI 1.01-1.20, p = 0.0291). Adding 2h-PG significantly improved ability of models including FPG (χ² = 16.01, df = 1, p = 0.0001) or FPG and APG (χ² = 17.36, df = 1, p = 0.000) to predict MACE. Model including 2h-PG only had the lowest Akaike's information criteria and highest Akaike weights suggesting that this was the best in predicting events. Adding 2h-PG to models including FPG or APG with other co-variates yielded continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) of 0.22 (p = 0.026) and 0.27 (p = 0.005) and categorical NRI of 0.09 (p = 0.032) and 0.12 (p = 0.014), respectively. Adding 2 h-PG to models including only FPG, only APG and both yielded integrated discrimination improvement of 0.012 (p = 0.015), 0.022 (p = 0.001) and 0.013 (p = 0.014), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

AGT is under-diagnosed on current guidelines. 2h-PG is a better predictor of prognosis compared to APG and FPG.

The Prognostic Value of Fasting Plasma Glucose, Two-Hour Postload Glucose, and HbA1c in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Report From EUROASPIRE IV: A Survey From the European Society of Cardiology

OBJECTIVE

Three tests are recommended for identifying dysglycemia: fasting glucose (FPG), 2-h postload glucose (2h-PG) from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). This study explored the prognostic value of these screening tests in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c were used to screen 4,004 CAD patients without a history of diabetes (age 18-80 years) for dysglycemia. The prognostic value of these tests was studied after 2 years of follow-up. The primary end point included cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure and a secondary end point of incident diabetes.

RESULTS

Complete information including all three glycemic parameters was available in 3,775 patients (94.3%), of whom 246 (6.5%) experienced the primary end point. Neither FPG nor HbA1c predicted the primary outcome, whereas the 2h-PG, dichotomized as <7.8 vs. ≥7.8 mmol/L, was a significant predictor (hazard ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.07-1.78; P = 0.01). During follow-up, diabetes developed in 78 of the 2,609 patients (3.0%) without diabetes at baseline. An FPG between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L did not predict incident diabetes, whereas HbA1c 5.7-6.5% and 2h-PG 7.8-11.0 mmol/L were both significant independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2h-PG, in contrast to FPG and HbA1c, provides significant prognostic information regarding cardiovascular events in patients with CAD. Furthermore, elevated 2h-PG and HbA1c are significant prognostic indicators of an increased risk of incident diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test predicts increased carotid plaque burden in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are established risk factors for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the atherosclerotic plaque burden in the carotid arteries of patients with acute coronary syndrome according to their glycemic status.

Methods

Patients with acute coronary syndrome and no previous history of type 2 diabetes were consecutively included in the study. Glucose metabolism was evaluated with fasting glucose in plasma, HbA1c and a standard two-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries was evaluated with a standardized ultrasound examination where total plaque area was measured and patients classified as having no plaque or a significant plaque formation.

Results

A total of 245 acute coronary syndrome patients (male 78%, 64 years (SD: 10.9)) were included. The proportion diagnosed with normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes was 28.6%, 64.1% and 7.3%, respectively. A significant atherosclerotic plaque was found in 48.5%, 66.9% and 72.2% of patients with normal glucose metabolism, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, respectively. An incremental increase in total plaque area was found from normal glucose metabolism to prediabetes (25.5%) and from normal glucose metabolism to type 2 diabetes (35.9%) (p = 0.04). When adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors the OR of having significant atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries was 2.17 (95% CI 1.15–4.15) for patients with newly diagnosed dysglycemia compared to patients with normal glucose metabolism. When additionally adjusted for the 2-hour plasma glucose after glucose loading (2hPG) the OR attenuated to 1.77 (95% CI 0.83–3.84).

Conclusion

Newly detected dysglycemia is an independent predictor of significant atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries with oral glucose tolerance test as a major determinant of carotid plaque burden in this group of individuals with acute coronary syndrome.

Diabetes Increases Cryoinjury Size with Associated Effects on Cx43 Gap Junction Function and Phosphorylation in the Mouse Heart

Diabetic patients develop larger myocardial infarctions and have an increased risk of death following a heart attack. The poor response to myocardial injury in the diabetic heart is likely related to the many metabolic derangements from diabetes that create a poor substrate in general for wound healing, response to injury and infection. Studies in rodents have implicated a role for the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in regulating the injury response in diabetic skin wounds. In this study, we sought to determine whether diabetes alters Cx43 molecular interactions or intracellular communication in the cryoinjured STZ type I diabetic mouse heart. We found that epicardial cryoinjury size is increased in diabetic mice and this increase is prevented by preinjury insulin administration. Consistent with these findings, we found that intercellular coupling via gap junctions is decreased after insulin administration in diabetic and nondiabetic mice. This decrease in coupling is associated with a concomitant increase in phosphorylation of Cx43 at serine 368, a residue known to decrease channel conductance. Taken together, our results suggest that insulin regulates both gap junction-mediated intercellular communication and injury propagation in the mouse heart.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed during Admission Adversely Affects Prognosis after Myocardial Infarction: An Observational Study

Objective

To investigate the prognostic effect of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) post myocardial infarction (MI).

Research Design and Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 768 patients without preexisting diabetes mellitus post-MI at one centre in Yorkshire between November 2005 and October 2008. Patients were categorised as normal glucose tolerance (NGT n = 337), IGT (n = 279) and NDM (n = 152) on pre- discharge oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Primary end-point was the first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, severe heart failure (HF) or non-haemorrhagic stroke. Secondary end-points were all cause mortality and individual components of MACE.

Results

Prevalence of NGT, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), IGT and NDM changed from 90%, 6%, 0% and 4% on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to 43%, 1%, 36% and 20% respectively after OGTT. 102 deaths from all causes (79 as first events of which 46 were cardiovascular), 95 non fatal MI, 18 HF and 9 non haemorrhagic strokes occurred during 47.2 ± 9.4 months follow up. Event free survival was lower in IGT and NDM groups. IGT (HR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.06–2.24, p = 0.024) and NDM (HR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.42–3.24, p = 0.003) independently predicted MACE free survival. IGT and NDM also independently predicted incidence of MACE. NDM but not IGT increased the risk of secondary end-points.

Conclusion

Presence of IGT and NDM in patients presenting post-MI, identified using OGTT, is associated with increased incidence of MACE and is associated with adverse outcomes despite adequate secondary prevention.

Effects of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, on left ventricular remodeling assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

The clinical efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the GLP-1 analog liraglutide on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with AMI. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of liraglutide on LV remodeling assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in 15 patients with type 2 diabetes who were successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI. Patients were divided into two groups based on their hypoglycemic medication: liraglutide use (group L; n = 6) or standard therapy (group S; n = 9). The CMRI findings in the early phase and at the 6-month follow-up were compared. At the 6-month follow-up, group S showed increases in LV end-diastolic (from 64 to 74 mL/m(2), p = 0.08) and end-systolic (from 38 to 45 mL/m(2), p = 0.13) volume indexes, whereas no such increase was observed in group L. The LV mass index (LVMI) was significantly smaller in group L than in group S at baseline (64 vs. 75 g/m(2), p = 0.05) and at follow-up (56 vs. 78 g/m(2), p = 0.009). Multivariate regression analysis showed that liraglutide use was an independent negative predictor of LVMI (β = -0.720, p = 0.003). In conclusion, liraglutide may be able to prevent the progression of LV remodeling and is associated with a lower LV mass in diabetic patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI.

Sustained prognostic implications of newly detected glucose abnormalities in patients with acute myocardial infarction: long-term follow-up of the Glucose Tolerance in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction cohort

OBJECTIVE

To investigate long-term prognostic importance of newly discovered glucose disturbances in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

During 1998-2001, consecutive patients with AMI (n = 167) and healthy controls (n = 184) with no previously known diabetes were investigated with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Patients and controls were separately followed up for cardiovascular events (first of cardiovascular mortality/AMI/stroke/heart failure) during a decade.

RESULTS

In all, 68% of the patients and 35% of the controls had newly detected abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). Cardiovascular event (n = 72, p = 0.0019) and cardiovascular mortality (n = 31, p = 0.031) were more frequent in patients with newly detected AGT. Regarding patients, a Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis identified AGT (hazard ratio (HR): 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-4.25; p = 0.008) and previous AMI (HR: 2.39; CI: 1.31-4.35; p = 0.004) as prognostically important.

CONCLUSION

An OGTT at discharge after AMI disclosed a high proportion of patients with previously unknown AGT which had a significant and independent association with long-term prognosis.

The DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin and endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndromes and newly detected glucose perturbations: A report from the BEGAMI study

OBJECTIVE

Compromised endothelial function contributes to poor prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Incretin-based therapy may exert beneficial cardiovascular effects beyond glucose lowering. We tested whether sitagliptin improves endothelial function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In the double-blind BEta-cell function in patients with Glucose Abnormalities and Acute Myocardial Infarction (BEGAMI) trial, acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-patients with newly detected impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomised to sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 31) or placebo (n = 33) during 12 weeks. Endothelial function was studied as reactive hyperaemia index (RHI).

RESULTS

At baseline, the RHI was slightly compromised in both groups (sitagliptin 1.67; Q1;Q3: 1.46;2.17 vs placebo 1.61; 1.44;1.96; ns). The RHI did not change during the study period and was 1.57 (1.40;2.36) in the sitagliptin and 1.60 (1.46;1.81; ns) in the placebo group after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Sitagliptin did not improve endothelial function in patients with ACS and newly detected glucose perturbations.

Impact of post-challenge hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes in Japanese patients with stable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Post-challenge hyperglycemia (PH) is well-established as one of risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, it remains unclear whether PH affects clinical outcomes in patients with stable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

A total of 828 patients with stable angina undergoing PCI were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 452 patients with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) or fasting plasma glucose (PG) ≥126 mg/dl and HbA1c ≥6.5% were defined as known DM. The remaining 376 patients were divided into the two groups according to 2-h PG: PH (2-h PG ≥140 mg/dl, n=236) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT, 2-h PG <140 mg/dl, n=140). We assessed the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and clinically-driven revascularization.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up of 4.3 years, the MACE rate was significantly higher in the DM and PH groups than the NGT group (39.3% vs. 20.7%, P <0.001; 31.4% vs. 20.7%, P=0.044, respectively). Compared with the NGT group, the cumulative incidence of revascularization was significantly higher in the DM group (35.1% vs. 18.5%, P <0.001) and tended to be higher in the PH group (27.1% vs. 18.5%, P=0.067). In the multivariate analysis, known DM (Hazard ratio [HR]: 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49-3.27, P < 0.001), PH (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07-2.53, P = 0.023), LDL-C >100 mg/dl (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.10, P < 0.001), and previous stroke (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.03-2.04, P = 0.034) were predictors of MACE.

CONCLUSION

PH is associated with future cardiovascular events in patients with stable angina undergoing PCI.

Sitagliptin improves beta-cell function in patients with acute coronary syndromes and newly diagnosed glucose abnormalities--the BEGAMI study

BACKGROUND

Newly detected impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS; i.e. unstable angina/myocardial infarction) and related to disturbed beta-cell function. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that treatment with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor initiated soon after a coronary event improves beta-cell function.

METHODS

Acute coronary syndrome ACS patients with IGT or T2DM (n = 71), screened by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 4-23 days (median 6 days) after hospital admission, were randomly assigned to sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 34) or placebo (n = 37) and treated for a duration of 12 weeks. All patients received lifestyle advice but no glucose-lowering agents other than the study drug. The study end-point was beta-cell function assessed using the insulinogenic index (IGI = ΔInsulin30 /ΔGlucose30 ), derived from an OGTT, and acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) assessed by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.

RESULTS

The IGI and AIRg did not differ at baseline between the sitagliptin and placebo groups (69.9 vs. 66.4 pmol mmol(-1) and 1394 vs. 1106 pmol L(-1) min(-1) respectively). After 12 weeks, the IGI was 85.0 in the sitagliptin and 58.1 pmol/mmol in the placebo group (P = 0.013) and AIRg was 1909 and 1043 pmol L(-1) min(-1) (P < 0.0001) in the sitagliptin and placebo groups respectively. Fasting glucose at baseline was 6.1 mmol L(-1) in sitagliptin-treated patients and 6.0 mmol L(-1) in those who received placebo compared with 5.8 and 5.9 mmol L(-1) respectively, after 12 weeks of treatment. Post load glucose metabolism improved in significantly more sitagliptin-treated patients compared with the placebo group (P = 0.003). Sitagliptin was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Sitagliptin improved beta-cell function and glucose perturbations in patients with ACS and newly diagnosed glucose disturbances.

Newly diagnosed glucose intolerance and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction: comparison of post-challenge versus fasting glucose concentrations

Background

Recent studies have demonstrated that newly diagnosed glucose intolerance is common among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term clinical cardiovascular outcomes in participants with AMI with abnormal fasting glucose compared with normal fasting glucose and an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) compared with a normal OGTT.

Methods

A prospective study was performed in 275 consecutive patients with AMI, 85 of whom had pre-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM). Those without DM were divided into two groups based on the 75 g OGTT at the time of discharge. Abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) was defined as 2 h glucose ≥140 mg/dl; 78 patients had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 112 had AGT. The same patients were also reclassified into the normal fasting glucose group (NFG; n=168) or the impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n=22). The association between the glucometabolic status and long-term major adverse cardiovascular event rates was evaluated.

Results

Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the AGT group had a worse prognosis than the NGT group and an equivalent prognosis to the DM group (p<0.0005). Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed that the HR of AGT to NGT for major adverse cardiovascular event rates was 2.65 (95% CI 1.37 to 5.15, p=0.004) while the HR of DM to NGT was 3.27 (1.68 to 6.38, p=0.0005). However, Cox HR of IFG to NFG for major adverse cardiovascular event rates was 1.83 (0.86 to 3.87), which was not significant.

Conclusion

In patients with AMI, an abnormal OGTT is a better risk factor for future adverse cardiovascular events than impaired fasting blood glucose.

2-h postchallenge plasma glucose predicts cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction without known diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The incidence of cardiovascular events remains high in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) despite advances in current therapies. New and better methods for identifying patients at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events are needed. This study aimed to analyze the predictive value of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction without known diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

The prospective cohort study consisted of 123 men and women aged between 31-80 years who had suffered a previous MI 3-12 months before the examinations. The exclusion criteria were known diabetes mellitus. Patients were followed up over 6.03 ± 1.36 years for CV death, recurrent MI, stroke and unstable angina pectoris. A standard OGTT was performed at baseline.

RESULTS

2-h plasma glucose (HR, 1.27, 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.62; P < 0.05) and smoking (HR, 3.56, 95% CI, 1.02 to 12.38; P < 0.05) proved to be independent predictors of CV events in multivariate statistical analysis after adjustments for age, sex, total cholesterol, and other baseline characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study population, with previous MI and without known DM, 2-h PG and smoking were significant predictors of CV death, recurrent MI, stroke and unstable angina pectoris, independent of baseline characteristics and medical treatment.

Association of diabetes with increased all-cause mortality following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the contemporary era

BACKGROUND

We investigated the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and all-cause mortality in a large cohort of consecutive patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in the contemporary era.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of a single-centre registry of patients undergoing PPCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at a large regional PCI centre between 2005 and 2009. All-cause mortality in relation to patient and procedural characteristics was compared between patients with and without DM.

RESULTS

Of 2586 patients undergoing PPCI, 310 (12%) had DM. Patients with DM had a higher prevalence of multi-vessel coronary disease (p<0.001) and prior myocardial infarction (p<0.001). Patients with DM were less commonly admitted directly to the interventional centre (p=0.002). Symptom-to-balloon (p<0.001) and door-to-balloon time (p=0.002) were longer in patients with DM. Final infarct-related-artery TIMI-flow grade was lower in patients with DM (p=0.031). All-cause mortality at 30 days (p=0.0025) and 1 year (p<0.0001) was higher in patients with DM. DM was independently associated with increased mortality after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality remains substantially higher in patients with DM following reperfusion for STEMI in comparison with those without diabetes, despite contemporary management with PPCI. Greater co-morbidity, delayed presentation, longer times-to-reperfusion, and less optimal reperfusion may contribute to adverse outcomes.

Glucometabolic state in Chinese patients undergoing elective coronary angiography

AIM

The aim of this study is to characterize the glucometabolic state of patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (CA) in a subpopulation in China.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study recruited 896 patients undergoing elective CA for the evaluation of suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) performed in patients without previously known diabetes revealed that 173 (19.2%) had newly diagnosed diabetes and 281 (31.5%) had impaired glucose regulation. The prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) was significant difference among three groups of CA diagnosis, including normal coronary, nonsignificant stenosis and CAD. Overall, the proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes increased from 22.0% at baseline to 41.2% post-OGTT analysis. In total, 270 (59.5%) patients with AGM would have remained undetected if OGTTs had not been performed. Patients with CAD, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and high C-reactive protein levels were at high risk of AGM.

CONCLUSIONS

AGM is common and underestimated by FPG testing alone in patients undergoing elective CA. OGTTs should be routinely performed to assess the glucometabolic state of patients undergoing elective CA, especially in patients with high risks of AGM. Detecting the state of AGM in CA individuals may provide strategies to reduce the progression of AGM and associated complications.

Post-load hyperglycemia as an important predictor of long-term adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction: a scientific study

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it is unknown whether hyperglycemic state is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after AMI. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between glucometabolic status and MACE in patients after AMI, and determined the critical level of 2 h post-load plasma glucose that may be used to predict MACE.

Methods

AMI patients (n = 422) were divided into 4 groups as follows: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) group, IGT group, newly diagnosed DM (NDM) group, and previously known DM (PDM) group. MACE of the 4 groups were compared for 2 years from AMI onset.

Results

The NDM group had a significantly higher event rate than the IGT and NGT groups and had a similar event rate curve to PDM group. The logistic models analyses revealed that 2 h post-load plasma glucose values of ≥160 mg/dL was the only independent predictor of long-term MACE after AMI (p = 0.028, OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.07-3.21). The 2-year cardiac event rate of patients with a 2 h post-load hyperglycemia of ≥160 mg/dL was significantly higher than that of patients with 2 h post-load glucose of <160 mg/dL (32.2% vs. 19.8%, p < 0.05) and was similar to that of PDM group (37.4%, p = 0.513).

Conclusions

NDM increases the risk of MACE after AMI as does PDM. Particularly, post-AMI patients with a 2 h post-load hyperglycemia ≥160 mg/dL may need adjunctive therapy after AMI.

Relationship of dysglycemia to acute myocardial infarct size and cardiovascular outcome as determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

BACKGROUND

Improved outcomes for normoglycemic patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI) over the last decade have not been matched by similar improvements in mortality for diabetic patients despite similar levels of baseline risk and appropriate medical therapy. Two of the major determinants of poor outcome following AMI are infarct size and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with first AMI were studied. 22 patients had diabetes mellitus (DM) based on prior history or admission blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l. 13 patients had dysglycemia (admission blood glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/l but < 11.1 mmol/l) and 58 patients had normoglycemia (admission blood glucose < 7.8 mmol/l). Patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at index presentation and median follow-up of 11 months. Cine imaging assessed LV function and late gadolinium contrast-enhanced imaging was used to quantify infarct size. Clinical outcome data were collected at 18 months median follow-up.

RESULTS

Patients with dysglycemia and DM had larger infarct sizes by CMR than normoglycemic patients; at baseline percentage LV scar (mean (SD)) was 23.0% (10.9), 25.6% (12.9) and 15.8% (10.3) respectively (p = 0.001), and at 11 months percentage LV scar was 17.6% (8.9), 19.1% (9.6) and 12.4% (7.8) (p = 0.017). Patients with dysglycemia and DM also had lower event-free survival at 18 months (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with dysglycemia or diabetes mellitus sustain larger infarct sizes than normoglycemic patients, as determined by CMR. This may, in part, account for their adverse prognosis following AMI.

Glucometabolic responses during Glucose Tolerance Test: a comparison between known diabetes and newly detected diabetes after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) newly detects diabetes (new diabetes) in a substantial number of patients without a history of diabetes (known diabetes) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients with new diabetes have poor outcomes, despite their lower HbA1c levels.

METHODS

This study consisted of 53 patients with new diabetes and 47 patients with known diabetes who underwent GTT 1 week after AMI. Sixty-eight patients with normal GTT and 78 patients with impaired glucose tolerance served as control. Plasma glucose and insulin were measured at fasting, 30 m, 60 m and 120 m after glucose load. Peak glucose-fasting glucose was used as a measure of glucose fluctuation. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and the Stumvoll's equations were used to assess insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function, respectively.

RESULTS

Fasting glucose (115 ± 20 mg/dl versus 129 ± 41 mg/dl, p=0.02) and hemoglobin A1C (5.7 ± 0.5% versus 6.7 ± 1.4%, p<0.001) in new diabetes were significantly lower than known diabetes. Insulin sensitivity was similarly impaired in both new diabetes and known diabetes (3.2 ± 2.2 versus 3.0 ± 1.9, p=0.58). Impairment of insulin secretion was less severe in new diabetes than in known diabetes. Peak glucose-fasting glucose was significantly greater in diabetic patients than inpatients with normal GTT (75 ± 30 mg/dl, p<0.001) and impaired glucose tolerance (95 ± 24 mg/dl, p<0.001), with no difference between new diabetes and known diabetes (156 ± 36 mg/dl versus 165 ± 57 mg/dl, p=0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that insulin resistance and exaggerated glucose fluctuation could be attributable to poor outcomes after AMI in patients with new diabetes.

Increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk biomarkers in patients with unknown type 2 diabetes visiting cardiology specialists: results from the DIASPORA study

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes mellitus and IGT have a high risk for cardiovascular events. It is tempting to speculate that these patients are often first seen by cardiologists.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study investigates the diabetes prevalence in cardiology care units and the correlated metabolic conditions as assessed by several circulating biomarkers.

METHODS

Patients aged 55 or older with suspected or overt coronary heart disease were eligible for trial participation. Fasting blood samples were drawn from patients to determine HOMA score, glycaemic and lipid profile, and several risk biomarkers. An OGTT was performed in patients without known diabetes.

RESULTS

We enrolled 530 patients (181 male, 349 female, mean age, 68+/-7 years) in this study from 22 German cardiology centres; 156 patients (29.4%) had known diabetes and OGTT revealed that 184 patients (34.7%) had no diabetes, 106 patients (20.0%) had IGT or IFG and 84 patients (15.9%) were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Increased cardiovascular risk as reflected by increased hsCRP, ICAM and MMP-9 values was observed in diabetes patients. A higher cardiovascular biomarkers risk profile was seen in the IGT/IFG cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the observation that one third of patients of a cardiologic care unit suffer from impaired glucose regulation. Furthermore, the cardiology patients with previously unknown glucose homeostasis abnormalities had a higher prevalence of macrovacular disease and an impaired biomarker risk profile. This study underlines the importance of joint treatment efforts by cardiologists in concert with diabetologists for treatment of this patient group at high risk for cardiovascular events.

Coronary risk factor profile and prognostic factors for young Japanese patients undergoing coronary revascularization

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in young adults. Risk factor profiling will help to prevent heart attacks in young patients. This study aimed to analyze the risk factor profile and predictors of major cardiovascular events (MACE) in young CAD patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From the Coronary REvascularization Demonstrating Outcome study in the Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) registry of Japanese patients undergoing their first coronary revascularization, 6,320 patients with complete data for all variables for statistical analyses were divided into younger (< or =55 years; n=898; 14.3%) and older (>55 years; n=5,422; 85.7%) patients. The risk factors that were more prevalent in the younger patients than in the older patients included: male sex, body mass index of >25 kg/m(2), current smoker, family history of CAD, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome-like risk factor accumulation. Multivariate analyses revealed that chronic kidney disease (CKD) was the only significant predictor of MACE, the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accident, in the younger patients. Importance of CKD as a prognostic factor was consistently shown by a multivariate analysis in the older patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Accumulation of multiple risk factors is prevalent and CKD is associated with MACE in young Japanese CAD patients.

Community-based adaptive physical activity program for chronic stroke: feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the Empoli model

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether Adaptive Physical Activity (APA-stroke), a community-based exercise program for participants with hemiparetic stroke, improves function in the community.

METHODS

Nonrandomized controlled study in Tuscany, Italy, of participants with mild to moderate hemiparesis at least 9 months after stroke. Forty-nine participants in a geographic health authority (Empoli) were offered APA-stroke (40 completed the study). Forty-four control participants in neighboring health authorities (Florence and Pisa) received usual care (38 completed the study). The APA intervention was a community-based progressive group exercise regimen that included walking, strength, and balance training for 1 hour, thrice a week, in local gyms, supervised by gym instructors. No serious adverse clinical events occurred during the exercise intervention. Outcome measures included the following: 6-month change in gait velocity (6-Minute Timed Walk), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Berg Balance Scale, Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Barthel Index, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Index of Caregivers Strain.

RESULTS

After 6 months, the intervention group improved whereas controls declined in gait velocity, balance, SPPB, and SIS social participation domains. These between-group comparisons were statistically significant at P<.00015. Individuals with depressive symptoms at baseline improved whereas controls were unchanged (P<.003). Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on a subset of participants in the intervention group. For these individuals, insulin secretion declined 29% after 6 months (P=.01).

CONCLUSION

APA-stroke appears to be safe, feasible, and efficacious in a community setting.

Effect of intracoronary thrombectomy on 30-day mortality in non-diabetic patients with acute hyperglycemia after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence about useful therapeutic interventions for patients with acute hyperglycemia (AH) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

We studied 2433 consecutive non-diabetic AMI patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 24h after the onset. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of AH (admission serum glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmol/l). We assessed the association between intracoronary thrombectomy and the clinical outcome in AMI patients with AH.

RESULTS

Patients with AH had more risk factors than those without AH. The 30-day mortality rate of patients with AH was significantly higher than that of those without (11.7% vs 1.7%, p<0.001). Among patients with AH, the 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower for those with intracoronary thrombectomy than those without it (4.9% vs 17.2%, p=0.004). Among patients without AH, however, the 30-day mortality rate was similar between those with and without intracoronary thrombectomy (1.5% vs 1.9%, p=NS). Multivariate analysis showed that intracoronary thrombectomy was associated with an improved 30-day mortality rate for patients with AH (hazard ratio: HR 0.184, 95% CI 0.057-0.598, p=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

In AMI patients with AH, intracoronary thrombectomy prior to PCI might improve the 30-day mortality rate.

Impaired glucose tolerance and endothelial damage, as assessed by levels of von Willebrand factor and circulating endothelial cells, following acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increases the incidence of major adverse cardiac events. We hypothesized that endothelial damage following AMI, as assessed by levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs), would be more pronounced in patients with IGT compared to those with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).

METHODS

We studied non-diabetic patients with AMI (n=125; 107 (86%) male; mean age 59 years (SD 12.5)) who underwent oral glucose tolerance testing 3-5 days after admission. We measured vWF (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and CECs (CD146 immunobead capture) in the fasting state and at 2 h post glucose load.

RESULTS

Base-line vWF and CEC levels were higher in IGT patients versus those with NGT and healthy controls (HC) (P<0.001). The acute increase in vWF and CECs in response to the glucose load was significantly higher in the IGT group compared to those with NGT and HC (P<0.01)-an increase on a par with that seen in newly diagnosed diabetics.

CONCLUSION

The degree of endothelial damage post AMI in patients with IGT is greater than NGT, and comparable to that seen in frank diabetes mellitus. Subjects with IGT therefore need to be as actively sought and managed.

Temporal change in glucose tolerance in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

We assessed the prevalence and 3-month change in glucose tolerance status in consecutive non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI; European Society of Cardiology 2007 definition) patients (N=49; mean (S.D.) age 65 (11) years) admitted to a coronary care unit, without known diabetes. These patients underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 36-hour (median, IQR: 18-72) after admission and at 3 months. Undiagnosed abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT: impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or new diabetes) was common (61% at admission and 41% at 3 months, p<0.05) and the majority (approximately 3/4) had IGT. Glucose tolerance status improved in a higher proportion of patients than it worsened (31% vs. 8%, p=0.04). At 3 months, fasting glucose was unchanged but 2-hour OGTT glucose was lower (mean (S.D.): 8.5 (2.7) mmol/L vs. 7.7 (2.7) mmol/L, p=0.004). 'Stress hyperglycaemia' could explain higher admission glucose levels and this raises the question about the optimal timing of OGTT in relation to myocardial infarction. Newly diagnosed diabetes was present in approximately 10% of patients and this was not reliably detected by fasting plasma glucose. In NSTEMI patients OGTT is the only reliable strategy to identify subjects with IGT and diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus does not affect jugular bulb oxygen saturation in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with the impairment of cerebral oxygenation during cardiac surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of DM on cerebral oxygenation assessed by jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjvO2) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) in a prospective controlled trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-three diabetic patients with glycosylated hemoglobin above 7.0% (DM group) and 23 non-diabetic patients (control group) undergoing OPCAB with no-touch aortic technique were included. A fiberoptic oximetry catheter was inserted into the jugular bulb. The lowest SjvO2 and the number of patients with cerebral desaturation, defined as SjvO2 less than 50% over 5 min, were recorded during coronary grafting. Three neurocognitive tests were done before surgery and at postoperative day 2 and 7. There were no differences in SjvO2 between the groups. Furthermore, the number of patients with cerebral desaturation and all neurocognitive test scores were similar between the 2 groups. None of the patients developed neurocognitive dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral oxygenation in diabetic patients was similar to that of non-diabetic patients and well maintained above the critical level without resulting in clinically significant postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction during OPCAB with no-touch aortic technique.

Vascular risk factors in South Asians

South Asians originate from the Indian sub-continent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal) and represent one fifth of the world's population. Several studies suggested that South Asians have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) when compared with European populations. We review the role of traditional and emerging risk factors in the increased CHD risk in South Asians. The high prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Asians may be a major cause for their elevated vascular risk. However, other established and emerging risk factors are also overrepresented in South Asians. Large-scale prospective studies could determine the relative contribution of established and emerging vascular risk factors in South Asians. There is an urgent need for trials in South Asians that will evaluate clinical outcomes following treatment of these risk factors.