Association between hyperglycemia at admission during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and subsequent diabetes: insights from the veterans administration cardiac care follow-up clinical study

Impact of stress hyperglycemia on long-term prognosis in acute pancreatitis without diabetes

Stress hyperglycemia has been confirmed as a strong predictor of poor short-term prognosis in acute pancreatitis. However, whether stress hyperglycemia affects the long-term prognosis of patients with acute pancreatitis is unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of stress hyperglycemia on the long-term prognosis of non-diabetic patients with acute pancreatitis. This retrospective observational study was conducted on 4055 patients with acute pancreatitis from 1 January 2016 to 31 October 2020. The association between stress hyperglycemia and the prognosis was evaluated using regression modeling. There were 935(71.5%) normoglycemic and 373(28.5%) stress hyperglycemia patients. 46(12.3%) patients with stress hyperglycemia had evidence of diabetes compared with 33(3.5%) patients without stress hyperglycemia (P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, patients with stress hyperglycemia were more likely to have evidence of diabetes (OR 2.905, 95% CI 1.688-4.999) compared with normoglycemic. However, stress hyperglycemia is not associated with the recurrence of pancreatitis and progression to chronic pancreatitis. Stress hyperglycemia was independently associated with diabetes secondary to acute pancreatitis. Accordingly, a follow-up diabetes-screening program for AP with stress hyperglycemia is an important part of identifying the disease as soon as possible, delaying islet damage, and improving the prognosis of post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus.

Effect of stress hyperglycaemia on acute kidney injury in non-diabetic critically ill patients?

BACKGROUND

Stress hyperglycaemia (SH) and acute kidney injury (AKI) occur frequently in critically ill patients, and particularly non-diabetics are associated with adverse outcome. Data is scarce on the effect of SH on AKI. We assessed whether SH (i) preceded AKI, (ii) was a risk factor of subsequent AKI, and (iii) how SH and tubular injury interacted in AKI development in critically ill, non-diabetics.

METHODS

Case-control study of 82 patients each with and without SH matched by propensity score for multiple demographic characteristics. AKI was defined by KDIGO criteria, SH either as blood glucose (BG) > 140 mg/dl (BG140), > 200 mg/dl (BG200), or stress hyperglycemia rate (SHR) ≥ 1.47 (SHR1.47) as measured 2 days before AKI. Urinary cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) indicated tubular injury.

RESULTS

In AKI, SH rates were frequent using all 3 definitions applied, but highest when BG140 was applied. SH by all 3 definitions was consistently associated with AKI. This was independent of established risk factors of AKI such as sepsis and shock. Increments of BG, urinary NGAL or cystatin C, and its products, were independently associated with the likelihood of subsequent AKI, demonstrating their reciprocal potentiating effects on AKI development.

CONCLUSIONS

SH is frequent in critically ill, non-diabetics with AKI. SH was identified as an independent risk factor of AKI. Higher BG combined with tubular injury may potentiate their adverse effects on AKI.

Complete Revascularization Versus Culprit-Lesion-Only PCI in STEMI Patients With Diabetes and Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: Results From the COMPLETE Trial

BACKGROUND

In the COMPLETE trial (Complete Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization to Treat Multivessel Disease After Early PCI for STEMI), a strategy of complete revascularization reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events compared with culprit-lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention in patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease. Patients with diabetes have a worse prognosis following STEMI. We evaluated the consistency of the effects of complete revascularization in patients with and without diabetes.

METHODS

The COMPLETE trial randomized a strategy of complete revascularization, consisting of angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention of all suitable nonculprit lesions, versus a strategy of culprit-lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention (guideline-directed medical therapy alone). In prespecified analyses, treatment effects were determined in patients with and without diabetes on the first coprimary outcome of cardiovascular death or new myocardial infarction and the second coprimary outcome of cardiovascular death, new myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization. Interaction P values were calculated to evaluate whether there was a differential treatment effect in patients with and without diabetes.

RESULTS

Of the 4041 patients enrolled in the COMPLETE trial, 787 patients (19.5%) had diabetes. The median HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) was 7.7% in the diabetes group and 5.7% in the nondiabetes group. Complete revascularization consistently reduced the first coprimary outcome in patients with diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.59-1.29]) and without diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55-0.90]), with no evidence of a differential treatment effect (interaction P=0.36). Similarly, for the second coprimary outcome, no differential treatment effect (interaction P=0.27) of complete revascularization was found in patients with diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.43-0.87]) and without diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.39-0.60]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients presenting with STEMI and multivessel disease, the benefit of complete revascularization over a culprit-lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention strategy was consistent regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes.

Predictors of Carbohydrate Metabolism Disorders and Lethal Outcome in Patients after Myocardial Infarction: A Place of Glucose Level

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to reveal statistical patterns in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that cause the development of carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMD) (type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes) and death within 5 years after AMI.

METHODS

1079 patients who were treated with AMI in the Almazov National Medical Research Center were retrospectively selected for the study. For each patient, all data from electronic medical records were downloaded. Statistical patterns that determine the development of CMDs and death within 5 years after AMI were identified. To create and train the models used in this study, the classic methods of Data Mining, Data Exploratory Analysis, and Machine Learning were used.

RESULTS

The main predictors of mortality within 5 years after AMI were advanced age, low relative level of lymphocytes, circumflex artery lesion, and glucose level. Main predictors of CMDs were low basophils, high neutrophils, high platelet distribution width, and high blood glucose level. High values of age and glucose together were relatively independent predictors. With glucose level >11 mmol/L and age >70 years, the 5-year risk of death is about 40% and it rises with increasing glucose levels.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results make it possible to predict the development of CMDs and death based on simple parameters that are easily available in clinical practice. Glucose level measured on the 1st day of AMI was among the most important predictors of CMDs and death.

Diabetes mellitus-related hospital admissions and prescriptions of antidiabetic agents in England and Wales: an ecological study

BACKGROUND

Around 6.5% of the population in the United Kingdom has been diagnosed with diabetes. It is associated with several long-term consequences and higher hospitalization rates.

AIM

To examine the profile of hospital admissions related to diabetes mellitus and the prescription rates of antidiabetic medications in England and Wales.

METHOD

This is an ecological study that was conducted for the period between April 1999 and April 2020 using publicly available hospitalisation data in England and Wales. Hospital admission data for patients of all ages was extracted from Hospital Episode Statistics in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. The difference between admission rates in 1999 and 2020, as well as the difference between diabetes mellitus medication prescription rates in 2004 and 2020, were assessed using the Pearson Chi-squared test. A Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation was used to examine the trend in hospital admissions.

RESULTS

A total of 1,757,892 diabetes mellitus hospital admissions were recorded in England and Wales during the duration of the study. The hospital admission rate for diabetes mellitus increased by 15.2%. This increase was concomitant with an increase in the antidiabetic medication prescribing rate of 105.9% between 2004 and 2020. Males and those in the age group of 15-59 years had a higher rate of hospital admission. The most common causes of admissions were type 1 diabetes mellitus related complications, which accounted for 47.1% of all admissions.

CONCLUSION

This research gives an in-depth overview of the hospitalization profile in England and Wales during the previous two decades. In England and Wales, people with all types of diabetes and related problems have been hospitalized at a high rate over the past 20 years. Male gender and middle age were significant determinants in influencing admission rates. Diabetes mellitus type 1 complications were the leading cause of hospitalizations. We advocate establishing preventative and educational campaigns to promote the best standards of care for individuals with diabetes in order to lower the risk of diabetes-related complications.

Machine learning for post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus prediction and personalized treatment recommendations

Post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM-A) is the main component of pancreatic exocrine diabetes mellitus. Timely diagnosis of PPDM-A improves patient outcomes and the mitigation of burdens and costs. We aimed to determine risk factors prospectively and predictors of PPDM-A in China, focusing on giving personalized treatment recommendations. Here, we identify and evaluate the best set of predictors of PPDM-A prospectively using retrospective data from 820 patients with acute pancreatitis at four centers by machine learning approaches. We used the L1 regularized logistic regression model to diagnose early PPDM-A via nine clinical variables identified as the best predictors. The model performed well, obtaining the best AUC = 0.819 and F1 = 0.357 in the test set. We interpreted and personalized the model through nomograms and Shapley values. Our model can accurately predict the occurrence of PPDM-A based on just nine clinical pieces of information and allows for early intervention in potential PPDM-A patients through personalized analysis. Future retrospective and prospective studies with multicentre, large sample populations are needed to assess the actual clinical value of the model.

Benefits of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors across the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as a class of medications with positive cardiovascular (CV) effects across a spectrum of patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, there is clear evidence that SGLT2i reduce hospitalisations and mortality regardless of the presence of diabetes, and they are now recognised as the fourth pillar of pharmacological management. Recent trial data also indicate promising effects in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. In patients with T2D and atherosclerotic CV diseases, multiple CV outcomes trials have shown reductions in major adverse CV events. Meta-analysis of these trials also shows lower rates of incident and recurrent atrial fibrillation with SGLT2i. Concerns regarding utilisation in patients with chronic kidney disease have been allayed in trials showing SGLT2i in fact have renoprotective effects. Questions still remain regarding the safety of SGLT2i in the acute heart failure setting and immediately post myocardial infarction, as well as in patients with more advanced stages of chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, studies are underway evaluating SGLT2i in patients with heart valve disease, where positive effects on left ventricular remodelling may, for example, improve functional mitral regurgitation. In this review, we summarise the available evidence of recent CV outcomes trials of SGLT2i, focusing particularly on the application of these agents across various CV diseases. We detail evidence to support increased utilisation of these drugs, which in many cases will reduce mortality and improve quality of life in patients routinely encountered by the CV specialist physician.

Pulsed ultrasound attenuates the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE

Acute hyperglycemia during myocardial infarction worsens outcomes in part by inflammatory mechanisms. Pulsed ultrasound has anti-inflammatory potential in bone healing and neuromodulation. We hypothesized that pulsed ultrasound would attenuate the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

METHODS

Acute hyperglycemia was induced in wild-type C57BL6 or acetylcholine-receptor knockout (α7nAChR-/-) mice by intraperitoneal injection of glucose. Pulsed ultrasound (frequency 7 MHz, bursting mechanical index 1.2, duration 1 second, repeated every 6 seconds for 2 minutes, 20-second total exposure) was performed at the spleen or neck after glucose injection. Separate mice underwent vagotomy before treatment. The left coronary artery was occluded for 20 minutes, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. The primary end point was infarct size in explanted hearts.

RESULTS

Splenic pulsed ultrasound significantly decreased infarct size in wild-type C57BL6 mice exposed to acute hyperglycemia and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (5.2% ± 4.4% vs 16.9% ± 12.5% of risk region, P = .013). Knockout of α7nAChR abrogated the beneficial effect of splenic pulsed ultrasound (22.2% ± 12.1%, P = .79 vs control). Neck pulsed ultrasound attenuated the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarct size (3.5% ± 4.8%, P = .004 vs control); however, the cardioprotective effect disappeared in mice that underwent vagotomy. Plasma acetylcholine, β2 adrenergic receptor, and phosphorylated Akt levels were increased after splenic pulsed ultrasound treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulsed ultrasound treatment of the spleen or neck attenuated the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury leading to a 3-fold decrease in infarct size. Pulsed ultrasound may provide cardioprotection via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and could be a promising new nonpharmacologic, noninvasive therapy to reduce infarct size during acute myocardial infarction and improve patient outcomes.

Diabetes and Mortality in Acute Coronary Syndrome: Findings from the Gulf COAST Registry

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of traditional risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are increasing in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Furthermore, outcomes after ACS are worse in patients with DM. The high prevalence of DM and an early age at onset of ACS have been described in prior publications from the Gulf Coast Database.

AIMS

We aimed to define the effect of DM on total mortality following ACS presentation at 30-days and 1 year based on the Gulf COAST registry database.

METHODS

The Gulf COAST registry is a prospective, multinational, longitudinal, observational cohort study conducted among Gulf citizens admitted with a diagnosis of ACS. The outcomes among patients with DM following ACS were stratified into 2 groups based on their DM status. Cumulative survival stratified by groups and subgroup categories was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of 3,576 ACS patients, 2,730 (76.3%) presented with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 846 (23.6%) with STEMI. Overall, 1906 patients (53.3%) had DM. A significantly higher in-hospital (4.8%), 30-day (6.7%) and 1-year (13.7%) mortality were observed in patients with DM compared with those without DM. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed significant differences in survival of ACS patients with or without DM, with a short period of time-to-event for DM patients with STEMI (30-days) and the longest (1-year) for NSTEMI patients without DM.

CONCLUSION

DM patients presenting with ACS-STEMI have poor short-term outcomes while DMNSTEMI patients have poor long-term outcomes. This highlights the need for strategies to evaluate DM control and integration of care to control vascular risk among this high-risk population.

Hyperglycaemia, adverse outcomes and impact of intravenous insulin therapy in patients presenting with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban setting: The Montefiore STEMI Registry

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycaemia occurs frequently in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and is associated with poor outcomes, for which continuous insulin infusion therapy (CIIT) may be beneficial. Information is limited regarding hyperglycaemia in acute STEMI affecting urban minority populations, or how CIIT fares in such real-world settings.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We assembled an acute STEMI registry at an inner-city health system, focusing on patients with initial blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL to determine the impact of CIIT vs usual care. Clinical and outcomes data were added through linkage to electronic records. Inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting using propensity scores (PS) was used to compare CIIT vs no CIIT. The 1067 patients included were mostly Hispanic or African American; 356 had blood glucose ≥180 mg/dL. Such pronounced hyperglycaemia was related to female sex, minority race-ethnicity and lower socioeconomic score, and associated with increased death and death or CVD readmission. CIIT was preferentially used in patients with marked hyperglycaemia and was associated with in-hospital hypoglycaemia (21% vs 11%, P = .019) and, after PS weighting, with increased in-hospital (RR 3.23, 95% CI 0.94, 11.06) and 1-year (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.02, 4.98) mortality. No significant differences were observed for death at 30 days or throughout follow-up, or death and readmission at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS

Pronounced hyperglycaemia was common and associated with adverse prognosis in this urban population. CIIT met with selective use and was associated with hypoglycaemia, together with increased mortality at specific time points. Given the burden of metabolic disease, particularly among race-ethnic minorities, assessing the benefits of CIIT is a prerogative that requires evaluation in large-scale randomized trials.

The prognostic impact of hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes of acute heart failure: Insights from the heart function assessment registry trial in Saudi Arabia

Background

The prognostic impact of hyperglycemia (HG) in acute heart failure (AHF) is controversial. Our aim is to examine the impact of HG on short- and long-term survival in AHF patients.

Methods

Data from the Heart Function Assessment Registry Trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS) for patients who had available random blood sugar (RBS) were analyzed. The enrollment period was from October 2009 to December 2010. Comparisons were performed according to the RBS levels on admission as either <11.1 mmol/L or ≥11.1 mmol/L. Primary outcomes were hospital adverse events and short- and long-term mortality rates.

Results

A total of 2511 patients were analyzed. Of those, 728 (29%) had HG. Compared to non-HG patients, hyperglycemics had higher rates of hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rates (8.8% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.003, 10.4% vs. 7.2%; p = 0.007, and 21.8% vs. 18.4%; p = 0.04, respectively). There were no differences between the two groups in 2- or 3-year mortality rates. After adjustment for relevant confounders, HG remained an independent predictor for hospital and 30-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.42; p = 0.021, and OR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.07–2.25; p = 0.02, respectively].

Conclusion

HG on admission is independently associated with hospital and short-term mortality in AHF patients. Future research should focus on examining the impact of tight glycemic control on outcomes of AHF patients.

New-Onset Diabetes After Acute and Critical Illness: A Systematic Review

Hyperglycemia is commonly observed during acute and critical illness. Recent studies have investigated the risk of developing diabetes after acute and critical illness, but the relationship between degree of in-hospital hyperglycemia and new-onset diabetes has not been investigated. This study examines the evidence for the relationship between in-hospital hyperglycemia and prevalence of new-onset diabetes after acute and critical illness. A literature search was performed of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases for relevant studies published from January 1, 2000, through August 4, 2016. Patients with no history of diabetes before hospital discharge were included in the systematic review. In-hospital glucose concentration was classified as normoglycemia, mild hyperglycemia, or severe hyperglycemia for the meta-analysis. Twenty-three studies were included in the systematic review, and 18 of these (111,078 patients) met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis. The prevalence of new-onset diabetes was significantly related to in-hospital glucose concentration and was 4% (95% CI, 2%-7%), 12% (95% CI, 9%-15%), and 28% (95% CI, 18%-39%) for patients with normoglycemia, mild hyperglycemia, and severe hyperglycemia, respectively. The prevalence of new-onset diabetes was not influenced by disease setting, follow-up duration, or study design. In summary, this study found stepwise growth in the prevalence of new-onset diabetes with increasing in-hospital glucose concentration. Patients with severe hyperglycemia are at the highest risk, with 28% developing diabetes after hospital discharge.

PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT FOR DIABETES IN THE HOSPITAL: A REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PROVIDERS

OBJECTIVE

The management of inpatient hyperglycemia and diabetes requires expertise among many health-care providers. There is limited evidence about how education for healthcare providers can result in optimization of clinical outcomes. The purpose of this critical review of the literature is to examine methods and outcomes related to educational interventions regarding the management of diabetes and dysglycemia in the hospital setting. This report provides recommendations to advance learning, curricular planning, and clinical practice.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search through PubMed Medical for terms related to concepts of glycemic management in the hospital and medical education and training. This search yielded 1,493 articles published between 2003 and 2016.

RESULTS

The selection process resulted in 16 original articles encompassing 1,123 learners from various disciplines. We categorized findings corresponding to learning outcomes and patient care outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Based on the analysis, we propose the following perspectives, leveraging learning and clinical practice that can advance the care of patients with diabetes and/or dysglycemia in the hospital. These include: (1) application of knowledge related to inpatient glycemic management can be improved with active, situated, and participatory interactions of learners in the workplace; (2) instruction about inpatient glycemic management needs to reach a larger population of learners; (3) management of dysglycemia in the hospital may benefit from the integration of clinical decision support strategies; and (4) education should be adopted as a formal component of hospitals' quality planning, aiming to integrate clinical practice guidelines and to optimize diabetes care in hospitals.

Stress hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients and the subsequent risk of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycaemia occurs frequently in critically ill patients without diabetes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether this 'stress hyperglycaemia' identifies survivors of critical illness at increased risk of subsequently developing diabetes.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE and Embase databases from their inception to February 2016. We included observational studies evaluating adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) who developed stress hyperglycaemia if the researchers reported incident diabetes or prediabetes diagnosed ≥3 months after hospital discharge. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of identified studies and evaluated the full text of relevant studies. Data were extracted using pre-defined data fields, and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled ORs with 95 % CIs for the occurrence of diabetes were calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Four cohort studies provided 2923 participants, including 698 with stress hyperglycaemia and 131 cases of newly diagnosed diabetes. Stress hyperglycaemia was associated with increased risk of incident diabetes (OR 3.48; 95 % CI 2.02-5.98; I ²  = 36.5 %). Studies differed with regard to definitions of stress hyperglycaemia, follow-up and cohorts studied.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress hyperglycaemia during ICU admission is associated with increased risk of incident diabetes. The strength of this association remains uncertain because of statistical and clinical heterogeneity among the included studies.

Can HbA1c detect undiagnosed diabetes in acute medical hospital admissions?

OBJECTIVE

To study hyperglycaemia in acute medical admissions to Irish regional hospital.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

From 2005 to 2007, 2061 white Caucasians, aged >18 years, were admitted by 1/7 physicians. Those with diabetes symptoms/complications but no previous record of hyperglycaemia (n=390), underwent OGTT with concurrent HbA1c in representative subgroup (n=148). Comparable data were obtained for 108 primary care patients at risk of diabetes.

RESULTS

Diabetes was diagnosed immediately by routine practice in 1% (22/2061) [aged 36 (26-61) years (median IQ range)/55% (12/22) male] with pre-existing diabetes/dysglycaemia present in 19% (390/2061) [69 (58-80) years/60% (235/390) male]. Possible diabetes symptoms/complications were identified in 19% [70 (59-79) years/57% (223/390) male] with their HbA1c similar to primary care patients [54 (46-61) years], 5.7 (5.3-6.0)%/39 (34-42)mmol/mol (n=148) vs 5.7 (5.4-6.1)%/39 (36-43)mmol/mol, p=0.35, but lower than those diagnosed on admission, 10.2 (7.4-13.3)%/88 (57-122)mmol/mol, p<0.001. Their fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was similar to primary care patients, 5.2 (4.8-5.7) vs 5.2 (4.8-5.9) mmol/L, p=0.65, but 2hPG higher, 9.0 (7.3-11.4) vs 5.5 (4.4-7.5), p<0.001. HbA1c identified diabetes in 10% (15/148) with 14 confirmed on OGTT but overall 32% (48/148) were in diabetic range on OGTT. The specificity of HbA1c in 2061 admissions was similar to primary care, 99% vs 96%, p=0.20, but sensitivity lower, 38% vs 93%, p<0.001 (63% on FPG/23% on 2hPG, p=0.037, in those with possible symptoms/complications).

CONCLUSION

HbA1c can play a diagnostic role in acute medicine as it diagnosed another 2% of admissions with diabetes but the discrepancy in sensitivity shows that it does not reflect transient/acute hyperglycaemia resulting from the acute medical event.

Hospital incidental diagnosis of diabetes: A population study

AIMS

To identify incidental previously unrecognized diabetes (IPUD) among hospitalized patients and corresponding mortality risk in comparison with individuals with known diabetes (KDM).

METHODS

Out of 214,991 individuals discharged in year 2011 from all hospitals of Tuscany, Italy we retrospectively identified IPUD as individuals with no known diabetes and/or previous antidiabetic medication, receiving at least two prescriptions of glucose-lowering-drugs over the next 6months after discharge. Two-year (2012-2013) adjusted mortality risk was tested by a Cox-regression-analysis, comparing IPUD and KDM patients with at least one hospital admission in 2011.

RESULTS

974 patients with IPUD (375.6×100,000 hospitalized people) have been identified. IPUD risk was associated with aging, male gender and greater burden of co-morbidities, was higher in migrants of non-Italian ancestry and was reduced among patients of family physicians adhering to guidelines resulting in a proactive model of care delivery. In IPUD patients alive at 1st January 2012, (n=865) the adjusted risk of two-year mortality was similar to that of KDM subjects (HR=1.08; 95% CI: 0.92-1.26; p=NS).

CONCLUSIONS

IPUD occurs more commonly in older male subjects, migrants of non-Italian ancestry, and among patients of physicians non-adhering to a shared diabetes care model. People with IPUD have similar two-year-mortality risk compared with KDM individuals.

Incidence and predisposing factors for the development of disturbed glucose metabolism and DIabetes mellitus AFter Intensive Care admission: the DIAFIC study

Introduction

Elevated blood glucose levels during intensive care unit (ICU) stay, so-called stress hyperglycaemia (SH), is a common finding. Its relation with a future diabetes risk is unclear. Our objective was to determine the incidence of disturbed glucose metabolism (DGM) post ICU admission and to identify predictors for future diabetes risk with a focus on stress hyperglycaemia.

Methods

This single center prospective cohort trial (DIAFIC trial) had a study period between September 2011 and March 2013, with follow-up until December 2013. The setting was a mixed medical/surgical ICU in a tertiary teaching hospital in Belgium. 338 patients without known diabetes mellitus were included for analysis. We assessed the level of glucose metabolism disturbance (as diagnosed with a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and/or HbA1c level) eight months after ICU admission, and investigated possible predictors including stress hyperglycaemia.

Results

In total 246 patients (73 %) experienced stress hyperglycaemia during the ICU stay. Eight months post-ICU admission, 119 (35 %) subjects had a disturbed glucose metabolism, including 24 (7 %) patients who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. A disturbed glucose metabolism tended to be more prevalent in subjects who experienced stress hyperglycaemia during ICU stay as compared to those without stress hyperglycaemia (38 % vs. 28 %, P = 0.065). HbA1c on admission correlated with the degree of stress hyperglycaemia. A diabetes risk score (FINDRISC) (11.0 versus 9.5, P = 0.001), the SAPS3 score (median of 42 in both groups, P = 0.003) and daily caloric intake during ICU stay (197 vs. 222, P = 0.011) were independently associated with a disturbed glucose metabolism.

Conclusions

Stress hyperglycaemia is frequent in non-diabetic patients and predicts a tendency towards disturbances in glucose metabolism and diabetes mellitus. Clinically relevant predictors of elevated risk included a high FINDRISC score and a high SAPS3 score. These predictors can provide an efficient, quick and inexpensive way to identify patients at risk for a disturbed glucose metabolism or diabetes, and could facilitate prevention and early treatment.

Trial registration

At ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02180555. Registered 1 July, 2014.

Peripheral artery disease in patients with diabetes: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and outcomes

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries and is also associated with atherothrombosis of other vascular beds, including the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. The presence of diabetes mellitus greatly increases the risk of PAD, as well as accelerates its course, making these patients more susceptible to ischemic events and impaired functional status compared to patients without diabetes. To minimize these cardiovascular risks it is critical to understand the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients. This, in turn, can offer insights into the therapeutic avenues available for these patients. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology of PAD in diabetic patients, followed by an analysis of the mechanisms by which altered metabolism in diabetes promotes atherosclerosis and plaque instability. Outcomes of PAD in diabetic patients are also discussed, with a focus on diabetic ulcers and critical limb ischemia.

Splenic leukocytes mediate the hyperglycemic exacerbation of myocardial infarct size in mice

Acute hyperglycemia during acute myocardial infarction is associated with worse myocardial injury and increased mortality. Using a mouse model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, we tested the hypothesis that acute hyperglycemia activates splenic leukocytes and subsequently exacerbates myocardial infarct size. We then examined whether the adverse effects of hyperglycemia could be attenuated by a potent anti-inflammatory agent (an agonist of the adenosine A2A receptor) administered immediately prior to reperfusion. C57BL6 (WT) mice underwent 30-min LAD occlusion and 60-min reperfusion with or without prior splenectomy. Acute hyperglycemia before ischemia increased myocardial infarct size (IS) by 43% (p < 0.05). Splenectomy before ischemia did not change IS (vs. control, p = NS) but did serve to prevent the exacerbation of IS by hyperglycemia. Acute hyperglycemia activated splenic leukocytes by increasing formyl peptide receptor expression and reactive oxygen species production before ischemia, and enhanced splenic neutrophil release with resultant peripheral neutrophilia and increased myocardial neutrophil infiltration during reperfusion. Acute adoptive transfer of splenic leukocytes to splenectomized mice before ischemia restored the hyperglycemic exacerbation of infarct size. ATL146e, an adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) agonist, abolished neutrophilia during reperfusion and reduced IS in hyperglycemic mice. ATL146e also reduced IS in splenectomized hyperglycemic mice with transfer of WT splenic leukocytes, but not with transfer of splenic leukocytes from A2AR knockout mice. Acute hyperglycemia prior to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion exacerbates IS by activating splenic leukocytes. ATL146e administered at reperfusion suffices to abrogate the hyperglycemic exacerbation of IS by acting on A2ARs on splenic leukocytes.

Improving diabetes diagnosis and management in myocardial infarction patients: overcoming clinical inertia

Diabetes is underdiagnosed and undertreated among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. The early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes during AMI facilitates improved risk stratification, use of appropriate revascularization strategies and secondary prevention medications, and timely initiation of glycemic therapy. Accurate diagnostic methods, such as hemoglobin A1c, should be evaluated for hospitalized AMI patients. In addition, efforts to improve the uptake of diabetes screening and management in the hospitalized setting should occur. Possible actions include the use of clinical information systems to generate physician reminders for diabetes detection and management, audit and feedback programs, and professional society initiatives to address diabetes screening and therapy initiation through clinical guidelines and performance measures. Through the application of both these and other efforts listed in the manuscript, the rates of undiagnosed and undertreated diabetes among AMI patients can be significantly reduced, which would lead to an improvement in both diabetic and cardiovascular outcomes.

Presentation blood glucose and death, hospitalization, and future diabetes risk in patients with acute heart failure syndromes

PURPOSE

The prognostic implications of blood glucose on a wide range of outcomes including early mortality, hospitalizations, and incident diabetes diagnoses have not been fully elucidated in acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS).

METHODS

In a population-based cohort of 16 524 AHFS patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) in Ontario, Canada between 2004 and 2007, we performed a competing risk analysis for 30-day mortality, new diabetes diagnoses, and hospitalization outcomes. Presentation blood glucose concentrations were categorized as follows: 3.9-6.1 [referent], >6.1-7.8, >7.8-9.4, >9.4-11.1, and >11.1 mmol/L.

RESULTS

Among AHFS patients without diabetes presenting to the ED (n = 9275), blood glucose >6.1 mmol/L (n = 5252, 56.6%) was associated with increased risks of all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR) range: 1.26 (95% CI 1.05-1.50) to 1.50 (95% CI 1.11-2.02)], and cardiovascular death [HR range: 1.28 (95% CI 1.03-1.59) to 1.64 (95% CI 1.16-2.33)]. Among AHFS patients with diabetes (n = 7249), presenting blood glucose >11.1 mmol/L (n = 2286, 31.5%) was associated with increased risks of all-cause death (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10-2.00) and diabetes-related hospitalizations (HR 1.39, 95% CI; 1.20-1.61). Presentation blood glucose >9.4 mmol/L was associated with increased risks of hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular causes [HR range: 1.09 (95% CI 1.02-1.17) to 1.15 (95% CI 1.07-1.24)] in all patients. With higher presentation blood glucose, the risk of incident diabetes diagnosis increased, with adjusted HRs of 1.61 (>6.1-7.8 mmol/L) to 3.61 (>11.1 mmol/L) among those without the condition at baseline (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Mildly elevated presentation blood glucose was associated with early death, future diabetes, and hospitalizations for diabetes, HF, and cardiovascular causes among patients with AHFS.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with diabetes: current concepts and future directions

Patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease represent a challenging and growing subset of the population. Although surgical revascularization is the preferred treatment for patients with diabetes and multivessel coronary artery disease with stable angina, a significant proportion of diabetic patients undergo percutaneous revascularization due to comorbidities, presence of single-vessel disease, or presentation with myocardial infarction. The development of drug-eluting stents has significantly improved the results of percutaneous revascularization among diabetic patients, but a number of challenges remain, including higher rates of restenosis and stent thrombosis among diabetic patients. With current technologies, the outcomes of diabetic patients treated with noninsulin agents have approached that of nondiabetic patients. In comparison, patients with diabetes who require insulin therapy represent a high-risk cohort with increased rates of target vessel failure after coronary revascularization. The development of bioresorbable stents and new drug elution systems may provide additional future benefit among patients with diabetes undergoing percutaneous coronary artery revascularization.