Findings from Belgium, Japan and Wales advance knowledge in diabetes research

Reports from Belgium, Japan and Wales highlight recent research in diabetes.

Study 1: Diabetes mellitus and fasting glucose are strongly predictors of a poor outcome in males with coronary artery disease and impaired left ventricular function.

Scientists in Belgium recently conducted a study "to evaluate the prognostic value of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes mellitus in male patients with coronary artery disease and poor left ventricular function. and results From a prospective database on patients referred for gated myocardial perfusion imaging between 1998 and 2002 all male patients with a history of coronary artery disease and poor left ventricular function were selected."

"Poor function was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (<=)40%. Subjects were classified as nondiabetics with fasting blood glucose levels <110 mg/dL, nondiabetics with impaired fasting glucose (fasting blood glucose between 110 and 125 mg/dL) and diabetics.

Median follow-up was 2.7 years. End points were all-cause mortality, cardiac death and hospitalization for heart failure," wrote N.R. van de Veire and colleagues, State University Ghent Hospital.

They found, "One hundred and sixty patients were selected (age 65(plusminus)9 years and left ventricular ejection fraction 29(plusminus)8%). In univariate analysis atrial fibrillation, NYHA class, glycaemia and diabetes mellitus discriminated between survivors and nonsurvivors.

"In Cox multivariate regression analysis for all-cause mortality only NYHA class and diabetes mellitus remained significant. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that diabetics had the worst survival and nondiabetics with glucose <110 mg/dL had the best survival. Nondiabetics with impaired fasting glucose had intermediate survival. Analysis for cardiac death/hospitalization for heart failure showed similar results."

The researchers concluded, "In male patients with coronary artery disease and impaired left ventricular function diabetes mellitus and fasting glucose are strongly predictive of poor outcome. Diabetics have the worst prognosis but nondiabetics with impaired fasting glucose also are at higher risk compared to nondiabetics with low fasting blood glucose."

van de Veire and colleagues published their study in Acta Cardiologica (Diabetes and impaired fasting glucose as predictors of morbidity and mortality in male coronary artery disease patients with reduced left ventricular function. Acta Cardiol, 2006;61(2):137-143).

For additional information, contact N.R. van de Veire, State University of Ghent Hospital, Dept. Cardiovascular Diseases, Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Study 2: Advanced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus incurred not only right ventricular remodeling but also overt resting left ventricular systolic dysfunction.