Vectocardiographic "bites" as possible early findings of cardiac involvement in diabetic patients without clinical evidence of heart disease

We performed a standard vectorcardiogram (VCG) in 87 diabetics, aged 20-77 years, orally- or insulin-treated, and in 41 normal subjects. None had cardiac history or symptoms. Among diabetics, 31 had no vectocardiographic abnormalities, 23 had various VCG changes, 33 showed electrical "bites" of various length (6-22 msec) and voltage (0.05-0.3 mV). In 8 normal subjects (19.4%) we found "bites" of similar voltage and length as in diabetic patients. A significantly positive linear relation was found between "bites" length and diabetes duration, in insulin-dependent diabetics only. By step-wise regression analysis we detected, in all diabetic patients with "bites," at a fixed value of diabetes duration, a significantly negative relation between "bites" length and patients' age. Moreover, the insulin treated patients showed a metabolic regulation index significantly worse than orally-treated diabetics; also diabetes duration was significantly higher in insulin-treated subjects. If "bites" may reflect an early heart involvement in diabetes, insulin-dependent patients seem to have a more severe cardiac damage in dependence of the diabetes duration. Finally, in the younger diabetics the heart diseases seems to be earlier and more advanced.     

Increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Type 2 diabetic patients with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to assess whether NAFLD is independently related to prevalent CVD. METHODS: We studied 400 Type 2 diabetic patients with NAFLD and 400 diabetic patients without NAFLD who were matched for age and sex. Main outcome measures were prevalent CVD (as ascertained by medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram and echo-Doppler scanning of carotid and lower limb arteries), NAFLD (by ultrasonography) and presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as defined by the World Health Organization or Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: The prevalences of coronary (23.0 vs. 15.5%), cerebrovascular (17.2 vs. 10.2%) and peripheral (12.8 vs. 7.0%) vascular disease were significantly increased in those with NAFLD as compared with those without NAFLD (P < 0.001), with no differences between sexes. The MetS (by any criteria) and all its individual components were more frequent in NAFLD patients (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, male sex, age, smoking history and MetS were independently related to prevalent CVD, whereas NAFLD was not. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CVD is increased in patients with Type 2 diabetes and NAFLD in association with an increased prevalence of MetS as compared with diabetic patients without NAFLD. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine whether this higher prevalence of CVD among diabetic patients with NAFLD affects long-term mortality.     

Incidence of cardiovascular disease in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects with and without diabetic nephropathy in Finland

Summary This study evaluates the impact of diabetic nephropathy on the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke and any cardiovascular disease in the Finnish population, which has a high risk of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. We performed a prospective analysis of the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease in all Type 1 subjects in the Finnish Type I diabetes mellitus register diagnosed before the age of 18 years between 1 January 1965 and 31 December 1979 nationwide. The effect of age at onset of diabetes, attained age at the end of follow-up, sex, diabetes duration and of the presence of diabetic nephropathy on the risk for cardiovascular disease was evaluated. Cases of nephropathy, coronary heart disease, stroke and all cardiovascular diseases were ascertained from the nationwide Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and National Death Register using computer linkage with the Type I diabetes mellitus register. Of the 5148 Type 1 diabetic patients followed up, 159 had a cardiovascular event of which 58 were coronary heart diseases, 57 stroke events and 44 other heart diseases. There were virtually no cases of cardiovascular disease before 12 years diabetes duration. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular disease by the age of 40 years was 43 % in Type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy, compared with 7 % in patients without diabetic nephropathy, similarly in men and women. The relative risk for Type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with patients without diabetic nephropathy was 10.3 for coronary heart disease, 10.9 for stroke and 10.0 for any cardiovascular disease, similarly in men and women. The presence of nephropathy in Type I diabetic subjects increases not only the risk of coronary heart disease, but also of stroke by tenfold. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 784–790] Received: 14 August 1997 and in final revised form: 2 March 1998     

Coronary artery disease among asymptomatic diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the plaque composition in asymptomatic diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). BACKGROUND: CAD is the major cause of death among patients with diabetes. The true prevalence of CAD in asymptomatic diabetic patients, however, remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 328 consecutive patients (each with at least one risk factor or abnormal stress-test results) were referred for cardiac evaluation, 42 with diabetes and 286 without diabetes, all asymptomatic for cardiac-related symptoms. Groups were matched for age, sex, and CAD risk factors. CAD was defined as coronary atherosclerosis, with obstructive or nonobstructive lesions. CCTA was performed and findings compared between patients with diabetes and those without. RESULTS: CAD was present in 39 (93%) diabetic patients and in 211 (73%) nondiabetic patients (P=0.006). Obstructive CAD was more common in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients (29 vs. 6.6%, respectively; P<0.0001). In diabetic patients, more coronary segments with atherosclerosis per patient were detected (5.5 segments/patient vs. 2.8 segments/patient in nondiabetics; P<0.0001). The total Agatston score was significantly higher in diabetic patients vs. nondiabetic patients (370+/-96 and 79.9+/-16, respectively; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a high prevalence (93%) of CAD in asymptomatic diabetic patients with either nonobstructive or obstructive lesions. CCTA may be a useful imaging modality for selecting patients at high risk who would benefit most from further evaluation for subclinical ischemia.     

The Prevalence of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: A Population-Based Study in Olmsted County,Minnesota

BackgroundDiabetic cardiomyopathy defined as either systolic or diastolic dysfunction in otherwise healthy diabetic persons is not clearly understood. The prevalence and outcomes of this disease in a community-based population have not been defined.Methods and ResultsCross-sectional survey of 2042 randomly selected residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, aged 45 years or older between June 1997 and September 2000. All patients underwent Doppler echocardiographic assessment of systolic and diastolic function. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was defined in a person with diabetes and any systolic or at least moderate diastolic dysfunction without a history of coronary disease, hypertension, significant valvular disease, or congenital heart disease. The diagnosis of diabetic cardiomyopathy was made in 23 people, corresponding to a community population prevalence rate of 1.1%. Among diabetic patients, 16.9% met criteria for diabetic cardiomyopathy and 54.4% had diastolic dysfunction. Diabetes was associated with a 1.9-fold increase in risk of any left ventricular dysfunction, a 1.7-fold increase in risk of diastolic dysfunction, and a 2.2-fold increase in risk of systolic dysfunction. Among patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy, the cumulative probability of death was 18%, development of heart failure was 22%, and development of death or heart failure was 31% at 9 years.ConclusionDiabetic cardiomyopathy is relatively common in the community with a prevalence of 1.1%. The morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy is high.     

The prevalence of coronary heart disease in Type 2 diabetic patients in Italy: the DAI study

Aims Type 2 diabetes is associated with at least a twofold increase in risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of CHD in the population of Type 2 diabetics cared for by the Italian network of outpatient diabetic units. Methods The DAI ( D iabetes and Informatics study group, Italian A ssociation of Diabetologists, and I talian National Institute of Health) study is a multicentre cohort study of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Patients were classified as having CHD if they had: (i) a history for hospital admission for either an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or angina; (ii) a positive ECG for prior AMI or angina; (iii) a positive history for coronary artery bypass graft; or (iv) a positive history for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Results A cohort of 19 468 patients was analysed: 3157 patients had CHD. The majority of events (80%) had occurred after the diagnosis of diabetes and were considered in the CHD prevalence estimate. The prevalence of CHD, adjusted by age and sex, was 9.9%: 11.0% male and 9.0% female. Angina without AMI occurred in 1306 patients; this condition was more frequent in females while a documented AMI was more frequent in males. Therapeutic procedures were performed more frequently in males. A positive association with CHD was found for gender, age at visit, duration of diabetes, hypertension, relatives with CHD, tryglicerides and microvascular complications. Conclusions The prevalence of CHD in this cohort is lower than previously reported; nevertheless, patients attending the diabetic care units may not be fully representative of the general diabetic population in Italy. Revascularization is less frequent in females than in males; microvascular complications and a worse metabolic control are significantly associated with CHD.     

Impact du tabagisme sur la présence de la cardiomyopathie diabétique

IntroductionType 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of coronary disease and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. The main objective of our work is to study the correlation of left atrial volume index with coronary disease in type 2 diabetics.Material and methodsCross-sectional, analytical, single-center study with prospective recruitment of 330 type 2 diabetic patients carried out at the Constantine Regional Military University Hospital over a period of 03 years (2016-2018) among which 18.8% (62 patients) are smokers. Early cardiac involvement represented by diastolic dysfunction was assessed by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Data were analyzed using Epi info 7.2.1.0 software to study the impact of smoking on the presence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.ResultsThe average age of our cohort is 52.7 ± 8.4 years, an average of 7.1 ± 1.3% of glycated hemoglobin, an average of 5.3 ± 4.3 years of diabetes duration, a sex ratio to 1.01. 34.8% of patients had left atrial volume index ≥ 34 ml/m2. The prevalence of coronary disease is 27.0%. In multivariate analysis; left atrial volume index is significantly correlated with coronary stenosis (OR = 1.75, 95% CI [1.60 - 2.05], p = 0.02).ConclusionThe prevalence of cardiomyopathy is high in type 2 diabetes and smoking is significantly correlated with the presence of this diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Diabetic heart dysfunction: is cell transplantation a potential therapy?

The presence of long-standing diabetes mellitus leads to the development of a number of typical end organ complications. These complications include coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. From an epidemiological and clinical standpoint, cardiovascular disease remains the most important complication of diabetes. Cardiovascular complications are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetics, accounting for up to 85% of the mortality in diabetic patients [1]. The increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyle in Western society are leading to an increase in the prevalence in diabetes. As such diabetes is an increasing cause of cardiovascular disease [2].     

Effect-modifications by age and sex on the risks of coronary artery disease and revascularization procedures in relation to diabetes

Using the National Health Insurance (NHI) claim data, we assessed the effect-modifications by age and sex on the risks of coronary artery disease and revascularization procedures in relation to diabetes in Taiwan. Diabetic patients (n=500,868) and the age-and sex-matched control group (n=500,248) were linked to the inpatient claims (1997-2002) to identify hospitalizations of acute myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, coronary revascularization procedures. The effects of age and sex on the risks of such coronary-endpoints were evaluated by Cox proportional hazard regression model adjusted for demographics and regional area. Older ages and being males had absolutely elevated risks of all coronary-related complications, but younger and female diabetic patients had higher relative risks compared to their controls. Effect-modification by age was significant in younger patients especially in subjects <35 years for ischemic heart disease (hazard ratio [HR]=11.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.3-18.1), and coronary revascularization procedures (HR=42.9; 95% CI: 6.0-309.3). Female diabetic patients also had increased HRs of all coronary endpoints particularly for revascularization procedures. In Taiwan, very high relative hazards of coronary complications were observed in younger and female diabetic patients. We must provide an aggressive diabetic care program emphasized to those high-risk groups.     

Determinants of subclinical diabetic heart disease

Aims/hypothesis Subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction has been shown by tissue Doppler and strain imaging in diabetic patients in the absence of coronary disease or LV hypertrophy, but the prevalence and aetiology of this finding remain unclear. This study sought to identify the prevalence and the determinants of subclinical diabetic heart disease.Methods A group of 219 unselected patients with type 2 diabetes without known cardiac disease underwent resting and stress echocardiography. After exclusion of coronary artery disease or LV hypertrophy, the remaining 120 patients (age 57±10 years, 73 male) were studied with tissue Doppler imaging. Peak systolic strain of each wall and systolic (Sm) and diastolic (Em) velocity of each basal segment were measured from the three apical views and averaged for each patient. Significant subclinical LV dysfunction was identified according to Sm and Em normal ranges adjusted by age and sex. Strain and Em were correlated with clinical, therapeutic, echocardiographic and biochemical variables, and significant independent associations were sought using a multiple linear regression model.Results Significant subclinical LV dysfunction was present in 27% diabetic patients. Myocardial systolic dysfunction by peak strain was independently associated with glycosylated haemoglobin level (p<0.001) and lack of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment (p=0.003). Myocardial diastolic function (Em) was independently predicted by age (p=0.013), hypertension (p=0.001), insulin (p=0.008) and metformin (p=0.01) treatment.Conclusions/interpretation In patients with diabetes mellitus, subclinical LV dysfunction is common and associated with poor diabetic control, advancing age, hypertension and metformin treatment; ACE inhibitor and insulin therapies appear to be protective.     

Diabetes and the associated incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease: Implications for management

BACKGROUND: We sought to examine the prevalence, sensitivity, and specificity of coronary calcium (CC), a marker of atherosclerosis, in a population of symptomatic and asymptomatic diabetic persons. METHODS: We used electron beam tomography (EBT) to quantitate CC in 168 symptomatic (chest pain or anginal equivalent) persons with diabetes who underwent coronary angiography and then compared this with a cohort of 155 asymptomatic persons with diabetes. RESULTS: In the 168 symptomatic diabetic persons, 124 (74%) had obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) by angiography. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis was used to maximize sensitivity and specificity for obstructive CAD (>50% stenosis), which established a CC score of 102 as optimal. With use of this cut point, EBT has a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 77% for detecting obstructive CAD. Of the 155 asymptomatic diabetic persons, 72% had CC and 48% had a CC score >102. The presumed prevalence of obstructive disease (on the basis of EBT scores and prevalence of CC) among asymptomatic diabetic persons is quite high (as high as symptomatic persons without diabetes). Analyzing the 323 diabetic patients demonstrated no significant age difference in CC scores between women and men. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that higher CC scores should be used in diabetic patients to improve the specificity of CC to determine obstructive disease. EBT can allow a noninvasive diagnosis of CAD before clinical presentation, allowing for more therapy for those in which CC is detected. These results suggest that asymptomatic diabetic persons have the same atherogenic burden of those patients with CAD without diabetes. The high prevalence of CC in asymptomatic persons with diabetes supports the need for aggressive management of diabetes and associated risk factors.     

Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease risk factors: a study on a middle-aged and elderly population

The risk for all the manifestations of atherosclerotic disease is increased in patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a well-characterized middle-aged and elderly Italian diabetic population. The population studied included 3862 subjects, i.e. all the patients affected by type 2 diabetes of age >or=50 years attending the outpatient diabetes care unit of INRCA in Ancona (Italy) from 1 August 1997 to 31 July 1998. We collected and analysed both clinical and laboratory data by means of a computerized data base for the outpatient clinic management. The prevalence rate of CHD was 20.25% in this population. The groups with CHD and without CHD did not differ significantly with respect to age at onset of diabetes, body mass index and HbA1c levels, while patients with CHD were significantly older than patients without CHD and had a longer duration of diabetes. The prevalence of patients with hypertension (52.9 vs 63.0%, P<0.001), hypercholesterolemia (11.6 vs 14.1%, P<0.05) and hyperlipidemia (17.8 vs 23.3%, P<0.001) was significantly higher in the group of diabetic subjects affected by CHD than in patients not affected by heart ischemic disease. It might be hypothesized that the improvement of metabolic profile and the currently feasible control of non-diabetic risk factors could reduce cardiovascular disease rates in type 2 diabetic patients.     

Asymptomatic coronary artery disease in diabetes: relation to common risk factors,lipoproteins, apoproteins and apo E polymorphism

The risk factors for asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) were examined in 138 diabetic patients. Following non-invasive screening examinations (exercise electrocardiography, dynamic thallium scintigraphy, 24-h electrocardiographic recording), CAD was confirmed angiographically in 21 symptom-free diabetic subjects with an ischaemic finding in at least one of the non-invasive tests. The prevalence of asymptomatic CAD in this cohort of diabetic patients was 21/132 (16%), which may be an underestimation because 6 patients refused angiography. Risk factors (age, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, serum lipoproteins, apoproteins and apo E phenotypes) were analysed according to the presence or absence of CAD. Multivariate logistic stepwise analysis did not show any definite changes of serum lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins in type 1 (n=72) and type 2 (n=66) diabetic patients with or without asymptomatic CAD. The only factors associated with asymptomatic CAD were the duration of diabetes (P<0.005) and the age of the patient (P<0.05). These results suggest that in diabetic patients the major risk factor for premature coronary atherosclerosis is diabetes itself. Assessment of other risk factors does not seem to define any subgroup with asymptomatic CAD.     

The relationship of cardiovascular risk factors to the prevalence of coronary heart disease in newly diagnosed Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes

Summary The relationship of cardiovascular risk factors to the prevalence of coronary heart disease was examined in 133 newly diagnosed Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients (70 men, 63 women) aged from 45 to 64 years and in 144 randomly selected non-diabetic control subjects (62 men, 82 women) of the same age. The prevalence of coronary heart disease in diabetic patients, defined by symptoms and ischaemic ECG abnormalities in resting or exercise ECG, was more than threefold that in non-diabetic subjects. In multiple logistic analyses (including age, history of smoking, hypertension (+/-), serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, 2-h post-glucose serum insulin, body mass index and diabetes (+/-)) carried out separately for men and women, diabetes showed an independent, significant association to coronary heart disease in both sexes. In addition, age and hypertension had a borderline association to coronary heart disease in men, whereas smoking and high 2-h postglucose serum insulin level showed a significant association in women.     

老年冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者320排螺旋CT冠状动脉血管成像特点

目的:探讨老年冠心病合并糖尿病患者冠状动脉病变特点。方法:选择2009年7月至2013年10月,冠状动脉CT确诊为冠心病的老年(≥60岁)患者293例,其中合并2型糖尿病128例,未合并糖尿病165例,比较两组冠状动脉病变的特点及相关临床因素结果:两组间年龄、体质量质数(BMI)、吸烟、饮酒、平均病程、冠心病家族史、脑血管病及TG等,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);两组高血压患病率、TC及LDL-C差异有统计学意义。糖尿病组的冠状动脉CT主要表现为多支血管病变、弥散血管病变和左主干病变,分别占41%、24%和14%,显著多于非糖尿病组的24%、7%和8%(P0.05)。糖尿病组的混合斑块及钙化斑块分别占66%和70%,显著多于非糖尿病组的18%和44%(P0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄、性别、吸烟、冠心病家族史、TG及LDL-C是老年冠心病患者发生冠状动脉弥散性病变的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者混合斑块发生率较高,多支病变及弥散病变较多见。     

Coronary atherosclerosis in Type II diabetes: angiographic findings and clinical outcome

Aims/hypothesis. Prevalence and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) are increased in patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus; whether this is entirely due to more extensive coronary atherosclerosis is, however, controversial. Methods. We analysed the clinical, angiographic and follow-up data of 2253 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography over the decade 1983–1992. Results. Abnormal coronary arteries (≥ 50 % stenosis) were found more frequently in diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects (85 vs 67 %, p < 0.0001), the excess being explained by a higher prevalence of three-vessel disease (36 vs 17 %, p < 0.0001). The sum of all angiographically detectable lumen stenoses (atherosclerosis score, ATS) was higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects (352 ± 232 vs 211 ± 201 units, p < 0.0001). After adjusting for measured cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes was still associated with an excess ATS (114 units in men and 187 units in women, p < 0.0001 for both, p < 0.03 for the interaction ATS x sex). Within the diabetic group, the only variable that was independently (of sex and age) associated with ATS was serum cholesterol, whereas plasma glucose concentration, disease duration and type of treatment were not correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. In contrast, clinical grade proteinuria was not associated with a more diffuse coronary atherosclerosis either in diabetic (366 ± 243 vs 354 ± 233 units) or non-diabetic subjects (231 ± 201 vs 207 ± 197 units). Over a mean follow-up period of 88 months, 19 % of diabetic patients compared with 10 % of non-diabetic patients died of a cardiac cause (age and sex-adjusted odds ratio OR = 1.34 [1.14–1.57]). In a Cox model adjusting for age, sex and all major risk factors, diabetes was still associated with a significant excess risk of dying of a cardiac cause (OR = 1.37 [1.14–1.60]); this excess was similar to, and independent of, that carried by the presence of prior myocardial infarction in the whole population (OR = 1.42 [1.25–1.62]). Proteinuria was associated with a higher risk of cardiac death, particularly in diabetic patients, independently of coronary atherosclerosis (adjusted OR = 1.46 [1.03–1.99]). Conclusion/interpretation. In patients undergoing angiography, diabetes, especially in women, is associated with more severe and diffuse coronary atherosclerosis which is not explained by either the traditional risk factors or the presence of proteinuria. On follow-up, these patients experience an excess of cardiac deaths, to which coronary atherosclerosis and proteinuria make independent, quantitative contributions. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 632–641] Received: 13 December 1999 and in revised form: 7 March 2000     

The prevalence, detection, and epidemiological correlates of peripheral vascular disease: a comparison of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in an English community.

A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the distribution, methods of detection, and potential risk factors for peripheral vascular disease in a diabetic population with comparison to an age and sex matched non-diabetic group. The population came from a geographically defined area consisting of 10 general practices (total list size 97,034) and covered rural and urban districts of East Dorset. Peripheral vascular disease was defined as an ankle/brachial Doppler pressure ratio of 0.9 or less. Of the diabetic subjects reviewed, 864 were classified as having Type 2 diabetes and 213 Type 1 diabetes. The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in Type 1 diabetes was 8.7% (95% CI 4.9-12.5) and in Type 2 diabetes 23.5% (95% CI 20.5-26.5), which after adjusting for age was not significantly different (odds ratio 1.5, 95% CI 0.8-2.7, p = 0.18). There was no difference in the frequency of symptomatic peripheral vascular disease or the site of occlusion between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with peripheral vascular disease. Age, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, glucose, body mass index, and cholesterol in Type 2 diabetes and age and proteinuria in Type 1 diabetes were significant predictors of peripheral vascular disease. In the non-diabetic group, age and cigarettes smoked were significant variables. These findings suggest that clinical features of peripheral vascular disease in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects are similar but risk determinants may be different.     

Cardiovascular trials in diabetes: past and present. Invited lecture of the XXXVth National Congress of the Spanish Society of Cardiology

The risk of coronary heart disease in subjects with Type2 diabetes is 2-4 times higher than in non-diabetic subjects of the same age. About 20% of patients with clinically established coronary heart disease have diabetes and the prognosis is much worse in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients. Trial evidence suggests that good blood glucose control reduces the risk of myocardial infarction in diabetic patients and improves prognosis after it. Trial evidence indicates that the benefit from antihypertensive treatment is at least as good in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients, and that diabetic patients with coronary heart disease or other form of atherosclerotic vascular disease should be treated with lipid-lowering drugs (usually with statins), if their LDL cholesterol levels on diet remain> 3.0 mmol/l (115 mg/dl). Trial evidence supports the use of aspirin in middle-aged or elderly diabetic patients. All diabetic patients should be advised to stop smoking.     

Quantitative electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic study on newly-diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetic and non-diabetic control subjects

Quantitative electrocardiographic (ECG) and vectorcardiographic (VCG) analysis was carried out in 113 newly diagnosed, middle-aged, non-insulin-dependent diabetics (61 men, 52 women) and 125 non-diabetic control subjects (56 men, 69 women) in order to explore changes attributable to non-coronary heart disease (diabetic cardiomyopathy) in diabetics. Diabetic men had a prolonged PQ interval and women a more negative P-terminal force and a more leftward frontal QRS axis than their non-diabetic counterparts, but no other significant differences we found between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in various quantitative ECG and VCG variables when the effect of confounding factors (age, obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, drugs) was taken into account. The more negative P-terminal force and left axis deviation in diabetic women could be explained by a concomitant left ventricular hypertrophy among them. Non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes, which is commonly preceded by a long duration of asymptomatic hyperglycaemia, is not associated, early in its clinical course, with major ECG and VCG abnormalities suggestive of diabetic cardiomyopathy.     

Features of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in the Sudan

413 NIDDM Sudanese patients were studied. The patients' ages at the onset of diabetes ranged from 20-72 years, with the majority of patients (44%) developing diabetes at the age between 40-50 years. Female to male ratio was 1.9:1. 46.2% of patients were obese and a family history of first degree relatives was obtained in 63% of patients. Complications of diabetes in this study were as follows: Neuropathy (31.5%), retinopathy (17.4%), cataract (16%), nephropathy (9.2%), coronary heart disease (5.1%), cerebrovascular disease (4.4%) and peripheral vascular disease (3.4%). Microangiopathic complications of diabetes were significantly related to the duration of diabetes and the degree of hyperglycaemia (P less than 0.001 using chi 2 test). Macroangiopathic complications were significantly related to aging and hyperglycaemia. Patients with good metabolic control (blood glucose less than 160 mg%) had less prevalence of complications than uncontrolled patients. We conclude that NIDDM is a common type of diabetes in our diabetic clinic. It is a disease with severe complications and morbidity and needs more attention regarding metabolic control, since good control reduces the prevalence of diabetic complications.