Peripheral arterial disease and risk of cardiac death in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study

Clinical Features and Implications of Albuminuria Trajectories in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase 2

Context

The urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (uACR) can exhibit significant temporal changes but few studies have characterized transition patterns between uACR categories in type 2 diabetes.

Objective

The study aim was to use group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify clusters of people with type 2 diabetes and distinct uACR trajectories.

Methods

Of 1482 participants in the observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase 2, a total of 1145 (77.3%; mean age 65.4 years, 53.3% males) with 2 or more biennial uACR measurements over 6 years were included in GBTM. Independent baseline associates of uACR trajectory group membership were assessed using multinomial regression. Associations between group membership and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate over 4 years were explored.

Results

The optimum GBTM model comprised 6 categories: normoalbuminuria (n = 429, 37.5%), regression (n = 82, 7.2%), progression (n = 71, 6.2%), progression/regression (n = 104, 9.1%), persistent microalbuminuria (n = 401, 35.0%), and persistent macroalbuminuria (n = 58, 5.1%). The latter 5 groups had worse glycemic control than the normoalbuminuria group. The 3 groups starting from/returning to normoalbuminuria had heterogeneous baseline characteristics but a decline in renal function that was similar to the normoalbuminuric group. The persistent microalbuminuria group had adverse baseline cardiometabolic features and longitudinal renal outcomes relative to the normoalbuminuria/other microalbuminuria groups. The persistent macroalbuminuria group had, consistent with its baseline characteristics, the highest mortality (31.0% vs ≤18.5% in the other groups) and most rapid progression of renal dysfunction.

Conclusion

GBTM identified distinct uACR trajectory groups with clinical and prognostic implications, and could be used to stratify participants in clinical trials of new therapies for diabetic kidney disease.

Incidence and predictors of transurethral resection of prostate in men with and without type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I

BACKGROUND

The relationship between type 2 diabetes and the incidence of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remains uncertain.

AIMS

To utilise data from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (FDS1) to examine the association between type 2 diabetes and incident TURP and investigate risk factors in men with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

First TURP hospitalisations were ascertained for males from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (n = 581) and age- and postcode-matched men without diabetes (n = 2361) between entry (1993-1996) and end (2017). Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated. Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models generated cause-specific (cs) and subdistribution (sd) hazard ratios (HRs) for incident TURP.

RESULTS

There were 86 and 338 TURP hospitalisations in participants with and without type 2 diabetes, respectively, during 42 236 person-years of follow-up. The IRR (95% confidence interval) for diabetes versus no diabetes was 1.23 (0.96, 1.56). A 10-year age increase more than doubled the risk of incident TURP (csHR 2.51 (2.02, 3.12), sdHR 2.59 (2.11, 3.18)), but type 2 diabetes was not a significant predictor in multivariable models. In participants with type 2 diabetes, a 10-year age increase was predictive (csHR 2.94 (1.93, 4.47), sdHR 1.92 (1.51, 2.44)); Anglo-Celt versus other ethnic groups was significant in the Cox (csHR 1.87 (1.17, 3.00)) but not competing risk (sdHR 1.60 (0.99, 2.57)) models.

CONCLUSIONS

Type 2 diabetes does not increase TURP risk in community-based Australians. There are no diabetes-specific variables associated with incident TURP.

Risk factors and predictive model construction for lower extremity arterial disease in diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE

To understand the prevalence and associated risk factors of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in Chinese diabetic patients and to construct a risk prediction model.

METHODS

Data from the Diabetes Complications Warning Dataset of the China National Population Health Science Data Center were used. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify related factors, and machine learning algorithms were used to construct the risk prediction model.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 3,000 patients, with 476 (15.9%) having LEAD. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that male gender, atherosclerosis, carotid artery stenosis, fatty liver, hematologic diseases, endocrine disorders, and elevated glycosylated serum proteins were independent risk factors for LEAD. The risk prediction models constructed using Logistic regression and MLP algorithms achieved moderate discrimination performance, with AUCs of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified the risk factors for LEAD in Chinese diabetic patients, and the constructed risk prediction model can aid in the diagnosis of LEAD.

The inter-relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection, dementia and mortality in type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I

BACKGROUND

Given sparse relevant data, the aim of this study was to determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection, including cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA) producing strains, is associated with dementia in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

Longitudinal data from 1115 participants in the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (mean age 64.0 years, 48.0 % males; 38.0 % H. pylori seronegative, 24.3 % H. pylori seropositive/CagA seronegative, and 37.7 % H. pylori/CagA seropositive at baseline) were analyzed.

RESULTS

During up to 19 years of follow-up, 50.3 % and 83.5 % of participants without and with incident dementia, respectively, died. In Cox proportional hazards models, H. pylori/CagA seropositivity (hazard ratio (95 % CI) 1.68 (1.15, 2.46), P = 0.008), but not H. pylori seropositivity/CagA seronegativity (P = 0.541) was an independent predictor of incident dementia, but neither H. pylori seropositivity/CagA seronegativity nor H. pylori/CagA seropositivity were significant predictors in competing risks models (P ≥ 0.280).

CONCLUSIONS

Although CagA seropositivity in T2DM may have a contributory etiologic role in the risk of dementia, this may be through its association with reduced cardiovascular/all-cause mortality.

Effect of prior gestational diabetes on the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in women with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

BACKGROUND

To examine whether prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and all-cause mortality, in community-based women with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Baseline prevalences of CHD/CeVD/PAD/prior GDM were determined in 718 females (mean ± SD age 65.5 ± 11.9 years) from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II. Deaths between baseline (2008-2011) and end-2016 were ascertained. Cox regression identified predictors of mortality with GDM as a candidate variable.

RESULTS

Compared to the 673 women without GDM, the 39 (5.4 %) with prior GDM were younger, more likely Aboriginal, smokers and obese, had longer diabetes duration and higher HbA1c levels, and were more dyslipidemic (P ≤ 0.046). Prevalences of CHD (24.6 versus 23.1 %), CeVD (7.5 % versus 2.6 %) and PAD (27.5 % versus 23.7 %) were not significantly different in those without versus with prior GDM (P ≥ 0.35). There were 116 deaths (16.2 %) during 6.8 ± 1.6 years of follow-up. Age, Aboriginal ethnicity, marital status, current smoking, heart rate, estimated glomerular filtration rate, CHD and PAD were independently associated with all-cause mortality (P ≤ 0.023); GDM status did not add to the most parsimonious model (P = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Prior GDM does not increase CVD risk or all-cause mortality in women with type 2 diabetes.

Pulmonary Function Trajectories Over 6 Years and Their Determinants in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether there are clusters of people with type 2 diabetes with distinct temporal profiles of lung function changes and characteristics.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) identified groups of participants with type 2 diabetes from the community-based observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) who had at least two biennial measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s as a percentage of predicted (FEV1%pred) over 6 years. Independent associates of group membership were assessed using multinomial regression.

RESULTS

Of 1,482 potential FDS2 participants, 1,074 (72.5%; mean age, 65.2 years; 45.5% female; median diabetes duration, 8.0 years) were included in the modeling. The best fitting GBTM model identified four groups categorized by FEV1%pred trajectory: high (19.5%; baseline FEV1%pred, 106.5 ± 9.5%; slope 0%/year), medium (47.7%; FEV1%pred, 87.3 ± 8.7%; slope, -0.32%/year), low (25.0%; baseline FEV1%pred, 68.9 ± 9.8%; slope, -0.72%/year), and very low (7.9%; baseline FEV1%pred, 48.8 ± 9.6%; slope, -0.68%/year). Compared with the high group, the other groups were characterized by nonmodifiable and modifiable risk factors associated with lung function decline in the general population (including ethnicity, marital status, smoking, obesity, coronary heart disease, and chronic respiratory disease). The main, diabetes-specific, significant predictor of group membership was a higher HbA1c in the very low group. There was a graded increase in mortality from 6.7% in the high group to 22.4% in the very low group.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of lung function in type 2 diabetes could help optimize clinical management and improve prognosis, including addressing glycemic control in those with a very low FEV1%pred.

Temporal Trends in Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

CONTEXT

Macrovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes have improved over recent decades. There are scant equivalent distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) data.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to characterize temporal changes in DSPN prevalence and incidence rates (IRs) in community-based Australians.

METHODS

An observational study was conducted among an urban population. Participants included individuals with type 2 diabetes from the Fremantle Diabetes Study phases I (FDS1; n = 1296 recruited 1993-1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1509 recruited 2008-2011). Main outcome measures included Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) clinical grading.

RESULTS

DSPN prevalence by 8-point MNSI was 30.8% (FDS1) and 58.9% (FDS2; P < .001), and by 6-point (excluding foot appearance) and 2-point (biothesiometry alone) MNSI was 37.5% and 35.7% (P = .336), and 33.8% and 38.7% (P = .011), respectively. Given between-phase changes in appearance assessment, 8-point MNSI data were not analyzed further. In multivariable analysis, FDS2 vs FDS1 participation was associated with 6-point (odds ratio (95% CI) 0.68 (0.56-0.83); P < .001) but not 2-point (0.90 (0.74-1.11); P = .326) MNSI DSPN prevalence. Four-year DSPN IRs (95% CI) for 6-point MNSI were 13.6 (12.0-15.4) and 17.6 (15.9-19.4)/100 person-years in FDS1 and FDS2, respectively (IR ratio [IRR] 1.31 [1.12-1.55]; P < .001), and for 2-point MNSI were 13.9 (12.3-15.8) and 7.4 (16.3-8.6/100 person-years; IRR 0.53 [0.43-0.64]; P < .001). FDS2 vs FDS1 independently predicted incident DSPN for 6-point (hazard ratio [95% CI] 1.25 [1.06-1.48]; P = .009) and 2-point (0.42 [0.33-0.55]; P < .001) MNSI.

CONCLUSION

DSPN prevalence was lower or equivalent in FDS2 vs FDS1, and its incidence was greater or lower, in multivariable models depending on the MNSI features used.

Risk factors for peripheral artery disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy among patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To investigate the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the associated risk factors among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data between November 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. PAD was defined as ABI ≤ 0.9. DPN diagnosis involved specialized physician assessments using questionnaires and vibration perception threshold tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors. We also evaluated the association between the clustering of risk factors and disease incidence.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 13,315 patients (mean age: 63.3 years). 4.9 % of the patients had PAD and 43.9 % had DPN. Multivariate regression analysis revealed advanced age, smoking, hypertension, coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia, elevated HbA1c, and uric acid levels as independent risk factors for PAD. For DPN, independent risk factors included advanced age, female gender, hypertension, coronary heart disease, elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, alkaline phosphatase, cystatin C, albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and elevated homocysteine levels, whereas apolipoprotein A was a protective factor. The clustering of risk factors was prevalent and associated with higher disease risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study contributed to identifying high-risk individuals and improving lower limb health among diabetic individuals.

The relationship between glycated haemoglobin and blood glucose-lowering treatment trajectories in type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

AIMS

To examine the relationships between glycaemia and treatment complexity over 6 years in well-characterized community-based people with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II participants who had type 2 diabetes with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood glucose-lowering therapy (BGLT) data over 6 years were included. Group-based multi-trajectory modelling identified combined HbA1c/BGLT trajectory subgroups for diabetes durations of ≤1.0 year (Group 1; n = 160), >1.0 to 10.0 years (Group 2; n = 382;) and >10.0 years (Group 3; n = 357). Multinomial regression was used to identify baseline associates of subgroup membership.

RESULTS

The optimum numbers of trajectory subgroups were three in Group 1 (low, medium, high) and four in Groups 2 and 3 (low, low/high medium, high). Each low trajectory subgroup maintained a mean HbA1c concentration of <53 mmol/mol (<7.0%) on lifestyle measures, or monotherapy (Group 3). All five medium subgroups had stable HbA1c trajectories at <58 mmol/mol (<7.5%) but required increasing oral BGLT, or insulin (Group 3, high medium). The Group 1 high subgroup showed a falling then increasing HbA1c with steady progression to insulin. The high subgroups in Groups 2 and 3 showed stable HbA1c profiles at means of approximately 64 mmol/mol (8.0%) and 86 mmol/L (10.0%), respectively, on insulin. Non-Anglo Celt ethnicity, central obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia were strongly associated with Group 1 high subgroup membership. Younger age at diagnosis and central obesity were independent associates of the most adverse HbA1c trajectories in Groups 2 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate diabetes duration-dependent heterogeneity in glycaemic and treatment profiles and related clinical and laboratory variables, which have implications for management.

Predicting Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Young Asian Americans: Insights from an Artificial Neural Network Analysis of the Nationwide Cohort

We used the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to identify predictors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in a national cohort of young Asian patients in the United States. The National Inpatient Sample (2019) was used to identify young Asians (18-44-year-old) who were hospitalized with SCA. The neural network's predicted criteria for SCA were selected. After eliminating missing data, young Asians (n = 65,413) were randomly divided into training (n = 45,094) and testing (n = 19347) groups. Training data (70%) was used to calibrate ANN while testing data (30%) was utilized to assess the algorithm's accuracy. To determine ANN's performance in predicting SCA, we compared the frequency of incorrect prediction between training and testing data and measured the area under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUC). The 2019 young Asian cohort had 327,065 admissions (median age 32 years; 84.2% female), with SCA accounting for 0.21%. The exact rate of error in predictions vs. tests was shown by training data (0.2% vs 0.2%). In descending order, the normalized importance of predictors to accurately predict SCA in young adults included prior history of cardiac arrest, sex, age, diabetes, anxiety disorders, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, hypertension, congenital heart disease, income, peripheral vascular disease, and cancer. The AUC was 0.821, indicating an excellent ANN model for SCA prediction. Our ANN models performed excellently in revealing the order of important predictors of SCA in young Asian American patients. These findings could have a considerable impact on clinical practice to develop risk prediction models to improve the survival outcome in high-risk patients.

Lower extremity arterial disease perspective: IUA consensus document on "lead management". Part 1

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is defined as coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, or lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) also named peripheral arterial disease (PAD). ASCVD is considered to be of atherosclerotic origin and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality mainly for individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). In this consensus document of the International Union of Angiology the authors discuss epidemiology, risk factors, primary and secondary prophylaxis, the correlation between diabetes mellitus and LEAD, conservative and surgical treatment.

Serum bicarbonate concentration and the risk of death in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

AIMS

To examine whether all-cause mortality is independently associated with serum bicarbonate concentration below the laboratory reference interval in a representative, well-characterised community-based cohort of people with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

1478 FDS2 participants with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65.8 years, 51.6% males, median diabetes duration 9.0 years) from the longitudinal, observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) were followed from study entry to death or end-2016. Independent associates of a low baseline serum bicarbonate (< 22 mmol/L) were determined using multiple logistic regression. The role of important covariates in influencing the association between bicarbonate and mortality was assessed by a stepwise Cox regression approach.

RESULTS

A low serum bicarbonate was associated with increased all-cause mortality in unadjusted analysis (hazard ratio (HR) 1.90 (95% confidence limits (CL) 1.39, 2.60 per mmol/L). Mortality remained significantly associated with low serum bicarbonate (HR 1.40 (95% CL 1.01, 1.94) per mmol/L) in a Cox regression model with adjustment for factors associated with mortality but not low serum bicarbonate, but inclusion of estimated glomerular filtration rate categories rendered the association non-significant (HR 1.16 (95% CL 0.83, 1.63) per mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

A low serum bicarbonate is not an independent prognostic marker in people with type 2 diabetes but it may be a manifestation of the pathway between the development of impaired renal function and death.

Temporal trends in chronic complications of diabetes by sex in community-based people with type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study

BACKGROUND

Whether recent reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality in type 2 diabetes apply equally to both sexes is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize temporal changes in CVD events and related outcomes in community-based male and female Australian adults with type 2 diabetes or without known diabetes.

METHODS

Participants from the longitudinal observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phases I (FDS1; n = 1291 recruited 1993-1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1509 recruited 2008-2011) and four age-, sex- and postcode-matched individuals without diabetes (FDS1 n = 5159; FDS2 n = 6036) were followed for first myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, lower extremity amputation, CVD death and all-cause mortality. Five-year incidence rates (IRs) for males versus females in FDS1 and FDS2 were calculated, and IR ratios (IRRs) derived.

RESULTS

The FD1 and FDS2 participants were of mean age 64.0 and 65.4 years, respectively, and 48.7% and 51.8% were males. For type 2 diabetes, IRRs for all endpoints were 11-62% lower in FDS2 than FDS1 for both sexes. For participants without diabetes, IRRs were 8-56% lower in FDS2 versus FDS1 apart from stroke in females (non-significantly 41% higher). IRRs for males versus females across FDS phases were not significantly different for participants with type 2 diabetes or those without diabetes (P-values for male * FDS2 interaction ≥ 0.0.083 adjusted for age). For risk factors in participants with type 2 diabetes, greater improvements between FDS1 and FDS2 in smoking rates in males were offset by a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure in females.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of chronic complications in Australians with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes has fallen similarly in both sexes over recent decades, consistent with comparably improved overall CVD risk factor management.

Examination of Lower Limb Microcirculation in Diabetic Patients with and without Intermittent Claudication

Intermittent claudication is a frequent complaint in lower extremity artery disease, but approximately two thirds of patients are asymptomatic, most of which are diabetic patients. Non-invasive angiological and microrheological tests on diabetic subjects with and without intermittent claudication were performed in the present study. In total, 98 diabetic patients were included and divided into two groups: 20 patients (63.5 ± 8.8 years, 55% men, 45% women) had intermittent claudication, 78 patients (65.5 ± 9.3 years, 61.5% men, 38.5% women) were asymptomatic. Hand-held Doppler ultrasound examination, transcutaneous tissue partial oxygen pressure (tcpO2) measurement, Rydel-Seiffer tuning fork tests, and 6-min walk tests were performed, and erythrocyte aggregation was investigated. Ankle-brachial index (p < 0.02) and tcpO2, measured during provocation tests (p < 0.003) and the 6-min walk test (p < 0.0001), significantly deteriorated in the symptomatic group. A higher erythrocyte aggregation index and faster aggregate formation was observed in claudication patients (p < 0.02). Despite the statistically better results of the asymptomatic group, 13% of these patients had severe limb ischemia based on the results of tcpO2 measurement. Claudication can be associated with worse hemodynamic and hemorheological conditions in diabetic patients; however, severe ischemia can also develop in asymptomatic subjects. Non-invasive vascular tests can detect ischemia, which highlights the importance of early instrumental screening of the lower limbs.

Group-Based Trajectory Modelling of Changes in Mobility over Six Years in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

To investigate temporal changes in mobility in community-based people with type 2 diabetes, Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) data were analysed. The baseline assessment included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which was repeated biennially for up to six years. Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) identified TUG trajectory groups in participants with ≥2 tests. Independent associates of group membership were assessed using multinomial regression. Of 1551 potential FDS2 participants, 1116 (72.0%; age 64.9 ± 11.0 years, 45.6% female) were included in the modelling. The best-fitting GBTM model identified two groups with linear, minimally changing trajectories (76.2% and 19.4% of participants; baseline TUG times 8 ± 2 and 12 ± 3 s, respectively), and a third (4.5%; baseline TUG 17 ± 5 s) with a TUG that increased over time then fell at Year 6, reflecting participant attrition. Both slower groups were older, more likely to be female, obese, and had greater diabetes-associated complications and comorbidities. Almost one-quarter of the FDS2 cohort had clinically relevant mobility impairment that persisted or worsened over six years, was multifactorial in origin, and was associated with excess late withdrawals and deaths. The TUG may have important clinical utility in assessing mobility and its consequences in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Comparative mortality and its determinants in community-based people with type 1 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare mortality in community-based Australians with type 1 diabetes (T1D), without diabetes, or with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The longitudinal observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (FDS1) T1D cohort, matched people without diabetes from the FDS1 catchment area, and matched FDS1 participants with T2D were followed up from entry (1993-1996) to death/end-2017. Mortality rates (MRs) and mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were calculated. Cox regression models identified independent determinants of death.

RESULTS

Of 121 participants with T1D and 484 age/sex/postcode-matched people without diabetes (pooled mean±SD age 43.1±15.3 years, 59.2% men), 55 (45.5%, MR 25.7 (95% CI 19.4 to 33.5)/1000 person-years) and 88 (18.2%, MR 8.5 (95% CI 6.8 to 10.4)/1000 person-years), respectively, died during 12 541 person-years of follow-up (MRR 3.04 (95% CI 2.13 to 4.31), p<0.001). Among participants with T1D, diagnosis at age 18-27 years and baseline HbA_1c, urinary albumin:creatinine ratio, and retinopathy were independent predictors of death (p≤0.011). Twenty-five FDS1 participants died from cardiovascular disease (MR 11.7 (95% CI 7.6 to 17.3)/1000 person-years) vs 28 residents without diabetes (MR 2.7 (95% CI 1.8 to 3.9)/1000 person-years; MRR (95% CI) 4.34 (2.43, 7.73) (p<0.001). There were 93 FDS1 participants with T1D who were age/sex matched with an FDS1 participant with T2D and 53 (57.0%) and 37 (39.8%), respectively, died (p=0.027). In pooled Cox regression analysis, T1D was not a determinant of mortality (HR 1.18 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.97), p=0.523).

CONCLUSIONS

T1D substantially increases the risk of death, especially when diagnosed in late adolescence/young adulthood. Diabetes type does not influence mortality after adjustment for key confounding variables.

Role of obesity related inflammation in pathogenesis of peripheral artery disease in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has emerged as one of the greatest global health challenges of twenty-first century. Visceral obesity is one of the most important determinant of insulin resistance (IR) as well as T2DM complications. Therefore this review focuses on the molecular mechanism of obesity induced inflammation, signaling pathways contributing to diabetes, as well as role of lifestyle interventions and medical therapies in the prevention and management of T2DM.

Method

Articles were searched on digital data base PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The key words used for search included Type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, insulin resistance, vascular inflammation and peripheral arterial disease.

Result

Visceral obesity is associated with chronic low grade inflammation and activation of immune systems which are involved in pathogenesis of obesity related IR and T2DM.

Conclusion

Metabolic dysregulation of adipose tissue leads to local hypoxia, misfolded/unfolded protein response and increased circulating free fatty acids, which in turn initiate inflammatory signaling cascades in the population of infiltrating cells. Mechanism that relates the role of adipocytokines with insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis might throw a light on the development of therapeutic interventions and subsequently might result in the reduction of vascular complications.

Lower-limb peripheral arterial disease and amputations in people with diabetes: Risk factors, prognostic value and management

Lower-limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis, resulting from a partial or complete obstruction of at least one lower-limb arteries. PAD is a major endemic disease with an excess risk of major cardiovascular events and death. It also leads to disability, high rates of lower-limb adverse events and non-traumatic amputation. In patients with diabetes, PAD is particularly frequent and has a worse prognosis than in patients without diabetes. The risk factors of PAD are comparable to those for cardiovascular disease. The ankle-brachial index is usually recommended to screen PAD despite its limited performance in patients with diabetes, affected by the presence of peripheral neuropathy, medial arterial calcification, incompressible arteries and infection. Toe brachial index and toe pressure emerge as alternative screening tools. The management of PAD requires strict control of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, the use of antiplatelet agents and lifestyle management, to reduce cardiovascular adverse events, but few randomized controlled trials have evaluated the benefits of these treatments in PAD. Several advances have been achieved in endovascular and surgical revascularization procedures, with obvious improvement in PAD prognosis. Further studies are required to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of PAD and to evaluate the interest of different therapeutic strategies in the occurrence and progression of PAD in patients with diabetes. Here, we present a narrative and contemporary review to synthesize the key epidemiology findings, screening and diagnosis methods, and major therapeutic advances regarding PAD in patients with diabetes.

Temporal trends in minor and major lower extremity amputation in people with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

AIMS

To determine whether incident minor and major lower extremity amputations (LEAs) have declined in recent decades in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Participants with type 2 diabetes from the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phases I (FDS1; n = 1,296, mean age 64.0 years, recruited 1993-1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1,509, mean age 65.4 years, recruited 2008-2011) were followed from entry to incident minor/major LEA, death or five years. Cox regression determined hazard ratios (HRs) for each outcome for FDS2 versus FDS1 and independent predictors of incident minor and major LEA in the combined cohort.

RESULTS

Age- and sex-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) in FDS2 versus FDS1 for incident minor and major LEA were, respectively, 0.60 (0.27, 1.35) and 0.59 (0.22, 1.59). Higher glycated haemoglobin, urine albumin: creatinine (uACR) ratio and peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) were independent predictors of incident minor LEA. Higher fasting serum glucose, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), end-stage kidney disease and prior diabetes-related minor LEA were associated with incident major LEA.

CONCLUSIONS

There were non-significant reductions of approximately 40% in incident minor and major LEA in community-based people with type 2 diabetes during the 15 years between FDS Phases. Predictors of minor/major LEA confirm distinct high-risk patient groups with implications for clinical management.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as a predictor of long-term cardiovascular events in 2174 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A retrospective cohort study

The prognostic value of arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and the occurrence of cardiovascular events in people with DM. A total of 2714 subjects (mean age, 63.6 years; males, 59.3%) with type 2 DM and without documented cardiovascular disease and stroke were analyzed. The primary end-point of this study was composite cardiovascular events of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and stroke. There were 118 composite events (4.3%) during a median follow-up period of 3.84 years (interquartile range, 1.60-5.52 years). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, higher baPWV (≥1672 cm/s) was associated with composite events even after controlling for potential confounders (hazard ratio [HR], 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-3.07; P = .001). Compared to the lowest baPWV tertile, both middle (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.03-3.27; P = .037) and the highest (HR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.69-5.22; P < .001) tertile of baPWV were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in the same multivariable model. In conclusion, the baPWV was associated with cardiovascular events in people with type 2 DM. Considering the simplicity and convenience of baPWV measurement, baPWV may be useful for risk stratification of people with type 2 DM.

Below-the-ankle arterial disease: a new marker of coronary artery disease in patients with diabetes and foot ulcers

AIM

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the association between below-the-ankle (BTA) arterial disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

METHODS

The study group was composed of patients with an active neuro-ischaemic DFUs managed in a tertiary care diabetic foot clinic. All patients received a pre-set limb salvage protocol including lower limb revascularization. By a retrospective analysis of individual angiograms, patients were divided in two groups: below-the-ankle (BTA) and above-the-ankle (ATA) arterial disease groups. The rate of CAD at baseline assessment and the new events of acute myocardial ischaemia (AMI) during 1-year of follow-up were evaluated and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Two hundreds seventy-two (272) patients were included, 120 (44.1%) showed BTA arterial disease while 152 (55.9%) ATA arterial disease. The mean age was 68.9 ± 9.6 years, 198 (72.8%) were male, 246 (90.4%) had type 2 diabetes, the mean diabetes duration was 20.7 ± 11.6 years, the mean HbA1c was 7.8 ± 4.2% (62 ± 22 mmmol/mol). The whole population reported CAD in 172 cases (63.4%), and the rate in the BTA group was significantly higher than in ATA group, respectively, 90 (75.4%) vs 82 (54.1%), p < 0.0001. During the follow-up, BTA group had 5% of new cases of AMI in comparison to 1.3% in ATA group (p < 0.001). At the multivariate analysis BTA resulted an independent marker of CAD [OR 1.9 CI 9 5% (1.3-4.5) p = 0.0001].

CONCLUSION

The current study shows a significant association between BTA arterial disease and CAD. A close cardiovascular screen should be required in patients with DFUs.

A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Data Linkage Publications on Diabetes in Australia

Aims

Our study aimed to identify the common themes, knowledge gaps and to evaluate the quality of data linkage research on diabetes in Australia.

Methods

This systematic review was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (the PRISMA Statement). Six biomedical databases and the Australian Population Health Research Network (PHRN) website were searched. A narrative synthesis was conducted to comprehensively identify the common themes and knowledge gaps. The guidelines for studies involving data linkage were used to appraise methodological quality of included studies.

Results

After screening and hand-searching, 118 studies were included in the final analysis. Data linkage publications confirmed negative health outcomes in people with diabetes, reported risk factors for diabetes and its complications, and found an inverse association between primary care use and hospitalization. Linked data were used to validate data sources and diabetes instruments. There were limited publications investigating healthcare expenditure and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in people with diabetes. Regarding methodological assessment, important information about the linkage performed was under-reported in included studies.

Conclusions

In the future, more up to date data linkage research addressing costs of diabetes and its complications in a contemporary Australian setting, as well as research assessing ADRs of recently approved antidiabetic medications, are required.

Peripheral Arterial Disease Prevalence in a Population-Based Sample of People with Diabetes on the Caribbean Island of Barbados

Background

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a risk factor for amputation and systemic atherosclerotic disease. Barbados has a high diabetes prevalence, and 89% of diabetes-related hospital admissions are for foot problems. Foot examination is infrequent in Barbados primary care. The prevalence and potential risk factors for PAD in people with diabetes in Barbados were studied.

Methods

Multistage probability sampling was used to select a representative population sample of people ≥25 years of age with known diabetes or fasting blood glucose ≥7 mmol/L or HbA1c ≥6.5%. We administered the Edinburgh claudication questionnaire and assessed the ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) and Doppler waveform in both dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries. Participants were classified into categories based on ABI as follows: PAD ≤0.90 in any leg; borderline 0.91 to 0.99 in one leg and the other not ≤0.90 or >0.4; normal 1.00 to 1.40 in both legs; and non-compressible >1.40 in one leg and the other not ≤0.9. Waveforms crossing the zero-flow baseline were categorised as normal. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the associations of potential risk factors with PAD.

Results

Of 236 participants (74% response rate, 33% male, median age 58.6 years), 51% had previously diagnosed diabetes. Of nine people with symptoms of definite or atypical claudication, four had PAD and one had non-compressible arteries. ABI prevalence (95% CI) was PAD 18.6% (13.8, 24.6), borderline 21.9% (16.6, 28.4), normal 55.5% (49.4, 61.5) and non-compressible 3.9% (1.6, 9.3). Increasing age and female gender were independently associated with PAD. Over 80% of normal legs (ABI 1.00 to 1.40) had normal posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis waveforms, while only 23% legs with PAD (ABI ≤0.90) had normal waveforms in both arteries (Kappa = 0.43).

Conclusion

Asymptomatic PAD is common in people with diabetes and requires ABI screening to detect it. Female gender is associated with PAD.

Presence of asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease in combination with common risk factors elevates the cardiovascular risk Substantially

Background and aims

This study evaluates the risks for adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease (APAD) combined with different traditional CV risk factors.

Methods

A population-based observational study of 8000 subjects, identified 559 subjects as having APAD through ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements and questionnaires regarding limb symptoms. This cohort and subgroups classified by presence of different traditional CV risk factors at baseline were assessed for 10 years on CV outcome. The recorded endpoints were all-cause mortality, CV mortality and non-fatal CV events.

Results

Before subdividing the APAD subjects, the CV mortality incidence was 28.5 deaths per 1000 person-years as compared to 8.7 deaths for references without APAD. For subjects with hypertension at baseline the CV mortality incidence was 35.4 when combined with APAD and 11.7 without. In women with hypertension but without other risk factors, presence of APAD increased the age-adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) for fatal and non-fatal CV events by 1.86 [CI 1.54,2.24, p < 0.001].

Conclusions

ABI measurements should be considered an important indication for aggressive multifactorial risk factor reduction in populations with any other prevalent CV risk factor. In hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a smoking history, coexisting APAD contributes significantly to the increased age-adjusted CV risk.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk, Risk Factors and Risk Management in the Peripheral Arterial Disease Population

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women worldwide but has been primarily recognised as a man’s disease. The major components of CVD are ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Compared with IHD or stroke, individuals with PAD are at significantly greater risk of major cardiovascular events. Despite this, they are less likely to receive preventative treatment than those with IHD. Women are at least as affected by PAD as men, but major sex-specific knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of relevant CVD risk factors and efficacy of treatment. This prompted the American Heart Association to issue a “call to action” for PAD in women, in 2012. Despite this, PAD and CVD risk in women continues to be under-recognised, leading to a loss of opportunity to moderate and prevent CVD morbidity. This review outlines current evidence regarding cardiovascular risk in women and men with PAD, the relative significance of traditional and non-traditional risk factors and sex differences in cardiovascular risk management.

Temporal Trends in Renal Replacement Therapy in Community-Based People with or without Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

Background: Although rates of cardiovascular disease complicating type 2 diabetes are declining, equivalent data for renal replacement therapy (RRT) are conflicting. The aim of this study was to characterize temporal changes in RRT incidence rates (IRs) in Australians with or without type 2 diabetes. Methods: Participants with type 2 diabetes from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phases I (FDS1; n = 1291 recruited 1993–1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1509 recruited 2008–2011) were age-, sex- and postcode-matched 1:4 to people without diabetes and followed for first hospitalization for/with RRT. Five-year IRs, IR ratios (IRRs) for those with versus without diabetes in FDS1 and FDS2, and IR differences (IRDs), were calculated. Results: The 13,995 participants had a mean age of 64.8 years and 50.4% were males. For the type 2 diabetes cohorts, the 5-year RRT IR was nearly threefold higher in FDS2 versus FDS1 (IRR (95% CI): 2.85 (1.01–9.87)). Sixteen more participants with type 2 diabetes/10,000 person-years received RRT in FDS2 than FDS1 compared with an IRD of 2/10,000 person-years in those without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes increased RRT risk at least 5-fold. This increased risk was greater in Aboriginal participants who were relatively young when RRT was initiated and more prone to rapid progression to RRT. Multivariable analysis using the combined FDS type 2 diabetes cohorts confirmed albuminuria as a strong independent RRT risk factor. Conclusions: The incidence of RRT is increasing substantially in Australians with type 2 diabetes, especially in Aboriginals who progress to RRT more rapidly at a younger age than non-Aboriginals.

Evaluation of functional capacity and muscle metabolism in individuals with peripheral arterial disease with and without diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by intermittent claudication, which interferes with walking and leads to worsening of functional capacity. This mechanism has not been clearly defined in PAD. Thus, the aim of our study was to identify the muscular metabolism and vascular function variables using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and their possible associations with functional capacity in individuals with PAD and secondly to verify the differences in these variables between persons with PAD and diabetes mellitus (DM) and those with PAD without DM.

METHODS

A total of 39 participants with intermittent claudication were enrolled, 14 of whom had DM. They were assessed for functional capacity by the total distance covered in the treadmill test with the speed and grade constant and for muscle function and metabolism using near-infrared spectroscopy at rest and during the treadmill test. The Spearman correlation coefficient was computed to assess the presence of an association between the variables, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed, considering the total test distance as the dependent variable. The assessment between groups was performed using the independent t test or Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The near-infrared spectroscopy variables related to tissue oxygen saturation in the test recovery phase were correlated with the functional performance during the treadmill test. Thus, those with a longer or slower recovery time and those with greater tissue deoxygenation had walked a shorter distance. A significant difference (P = .049) was noted between those with PAD stratified by DM in the reoxygenation time required for an occlusion.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reinforce the hypothesis that peripheral factors related to vascular function and muscular metabolism can affect the walking capacity of persons with PAD and that microvascular dysfunction is more prevalent among those with PAD and DM.

Survival of Patients Following First Diagnosis of Diabetic Foot Complications: A Nationwide 15-Year Longitudinal Analysis

Background and Aims

The long-term survival in people with type 2 diabetes following first diagnosis of diabetic foot complications (FDDFC) is unclear. The object is to evaluate the mortality rate in subjects with type 2 diabetes following FDDFC and the impacts of the major cardiovascular comorbidities.

Methods

Nationwide data were analyzed for subjects with T2D and DFC between 2003 and 2017 according to ICD-9 coding. DFC was defined with the codes of ulcers, infections, or severe peripheral artery disease that required intervention (PAD) to mimic the real world diagnosis. Criteria of FDDFC were preceded by a period without any DFC for at least 5 years. Major cardiovascular comorbidities: established PAD and cardiovascular diseases (CVD: including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, or heart failure) before the index date as well as lower-extremity amputations (LEA) at the index episode were analyzed.

Results

Among 300,115 subjects with DFC, a total of 103,396 patients had FDDFC. The mean 5-year survival rate of these subjects was 81.05%. Using subjects without associated major cardiovascular comorbidity as baseline, the adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were1.43 (95% confidence interval 1.38-1.49) in group PAD-/CVD+, followed by 1.70 (1.59-1.80) in PAD+/CVD- and 1.98 (1.89-2.08) in PAD+/CVD+. The aHR was further increased in patients with PAD who additionally had heart failure (3.77, 3.50-4.05), stroke (2.06, 1.95-2.18), or CHD (1.89, 1.79-2.00). Subjects with PAD rather than other CVD were associated with LEA at FDDFC. Patients with major LEA (above the ankle) at FDDFC episode had lower 5-year survival rate (65.01%) followed by those with minor LEA (72.24%) and without LEA (81.61%).

Conclusions

Cardiovascular comorbidity as well as LEA status at the event of FDDFCs were both associated with patient survival outcomes. Earlier identification of this large population could lead to higher survival rates.

Prevalence, Incidence and Associates of Pulmonary Hypertension Complicating Type 2 Diabetes: Insights from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase 2 and National Echocardiographic Database of Australia

There is a paucity of epidemiologic data examining the relationship between pulmonary hypertension (PH) and diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence, incidence and associates of PH complicating type 2 diabetes. Data from 1430 participants (mean age 65.5 years, 51.5% males) in the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase 2 (FDS2) were linked with the National Echocardiographic Database of Australia (NEDA) to ascertain the prevalence and incidence of PH (estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (eRVSP) >30 mmHg as a new suggested threshold or the conventional >40 mmHg) over a 12-year period. PH prevalence in FDS2 was compared with that in NEDA overall and a geographically close sub-population. Multivariable analyses identified associates of prevalent/incident PH in the FDS2 cohort. Of 275 FDS2 patients (19.2%) with pre-entry echocardiography, 90 had eRVSP >30 mmHg and 35 had eRVSP >40 mmHg (prevalences 32.7% (95% CI 27.3–38.7%) and 12.7% (9.1–17.4%), respectively), rates that are 35–50% greater than national/local NEDA general population estimates. Moreover, 70 (5.0%) and 123 (9.2%) FDS2 participants were identified with incident PH at the respective eRVSP thresholds (incidence (95% CI) 7.6 (6.0–9.7) and 14.2 (11.8–17.0)/1000 person-years), paralleling data from recognised high-risk conditions such as systemic sclerosis. The baseline plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration was the strongest independent associate of prevalent/incident PH. Approximately 1 in 8 people with type 2 diabetes have PH using the eRVSP >40 mmHg threshold. Its presence should be considered as part of regular clinical assessment of individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Development and validation of a risk score model for prediction of lower extremity arterial disease in Chinese with type 2 diabetes aged over 50 years

BACKGROUND

Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is highly prevalent in people with diabetes in China, but half of cases are underdiagnosed due to diversities of clinical presentations and complexities of diagnosis approaches. The purpose of this study was to develop a risk score model for LEAD to facilitate early screening among type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients.

METHODS

A total of 8313 participants with T2DM from the China DIA-LEAD study, a multicenter, cross-sectional epidemiological study, were selected as the training dataset to develop a risk score model for LEAD by logistic regression. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and bootstrapping were utilized for internal validation. A dataset of 287 participants consecutively enrolled from a teaching hospital between July 2017 and November 2017 was used as external validation for the risk score model.

RESULTS

A total of 931 (11.2%) participants were diagnosed as LEAD in the training dataset. Factors including age, current smoking, duration of diabetes, blood pressure control, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and coexistence of cardio and/or cerebrovascular disease correlated with LEAD in logistic regression analysis and resulted in a weighed risk score model of 0-13. A score of ≥5 was found to be the optimal cut-off for discriminating moderate-high risk participants with AUC of 0.786 (95% CI: 0.778-0.795). The bootstrapping validation showed that the AUC was 0.784. Similar performance of the risk score model was observed in the validation dataset with AUC of 0.731 (95% CI: 0.651-0.811). The prevalence of LEAD was 3.4, 12.1, and 27.6% in the low risk (total score 0-4), moderate risk (total score 5-8), and high risk (total score 9-13) groups of LEAD in the training dataset, respectively, which were 4.3, 19.6, and 30.2% in the validation dataset.

CONCLUSION

The weighed risk score model for LEAD could reliably discriminate the presence of LEAD in Chinese with T2DM aged over 50 years, which may be helpful for a precise risk assessment and early diagnosis of LEAD.

Effect of Direct Endovascular Revascularization Based on the Angiosome Model on Risk of Major Amputations and Life Expectancy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia and Foot Ulceration

BACKGROUND

We evaluated whether direct or indirect endovascular revascularization based on the angiosome model affects outcomes in type 2 diabetes and critical limb ischemia.

METHODS

From 2010 to 2015, 603 patients with type 2 diabetes were admitted for critical limb ischemia and submitted to endovascular revascularization. Among these patients, 314 (52%) underwent direct and 123 (20%) indirect revascularization, depending on whether the flow to the artery directly feeding the site of ulceration, according to the angiosome model, was successfully acquired; 166 patients (28%) were judged unable to be revascularized. Outcomes were healing, major amputation, and mortality rates.

RESULTS

An overall healing rate of 62.5% was observed: patients who did not receive percutaneous transluminal angioplasty presented a healing rate of 58.4% (P < .02 versus revascularized patients). A higher healing rate was observed in the direct versus the indirect group (82.4% versus 50.4%; P < .001). The major amputation rate was significantly higher in the indirect versus the direct group (9.2% versus 3.2%; P < .05). The overall mortality rate was 21.6%, and it was higher in the indirect versus the direct group (24% versus 14%; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that direct revascularization of arteries supplying the diabetic foot ulcer site by means of the angiosome model is associated with a higher healing rate and lower risk of amputation and death compared with the indirect procedure. These results support use of the angiosome model in type 2 diabetes with critical limb ischemia.

Pain Management in People with Diabetes-Related Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Management of neuropathic pain in people with diabetes has been widely investigated. However, little attention was paid to address ischemic-related pain in patients with diabetes mellitus who suffered from chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the end stage of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). Pain management has a tremendous influence on patients' quality of life and prognosis. Poor management of this type of pain owing to the lack of full understanding undermines patients' physical and mental quality of life, which often results in a grim prognosis, such as depression, myocardial infarction, lower limb amputation, and even mortality. In the present article, we review the current strategy in the pain management of diabetes-related CLTI. The endovascular therapy, pharmacological therapies, and other optional methods could be selected following comprehensive assessments to mitigate ischemic-related pain, in line with our current clinical practice. It is very important for clinicians and patients to strengthen the understanding and build intervention strategy in ischemic pain management and possible adverse consequence.

Predictive value of abnormal ankle-brachial index in patients with diabetes: A meta-analysis

AIMS

This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association of abnormal ankle brachial index (ABI) with adverse prognosis in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases from inception to October 31, 2020 for observational studies investigating the predictive utility of abnormal ABI in patients with diabetes. The normal ABI is usually defined by 0.9-1.3 or 1.4.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 9 studies involving 9673 patients. When compared with the reference normal ABI, abnormal ABI was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.98; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.66-2.37), all-cause mortality (RR 2.12; 95% CI 1.81-2.49), and major adverse cardiovascular events ([MACEs] RR 2.37; 95% CI 1.73-3.26). Subgroup analysis indicated that the pooled RR of cardiovascular mortality was similar in individuals with abnormally low ABI (RR 1.98; 95% CI 1.64-2.39) or high ABI (RR 2.00; 95% CI 1.12-3.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal ABI independently predicts subsequent risk of cardiovascular or all-cause mortality and MACEs in patients with diabetes. However, the predictive role of abnormal ABI is largely dominated by the low ABI rather than the high ABI.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with arterial stiffness in Chinese with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

Arterial stiffness (AS), one of the complications of diabetes, associated with many metabolic factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D) and AS in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We identified 1335 diabetic patients from the Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital. Finally, 603 T2DM patients were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: AS group (baPWV ≥ 15,500 cm/s) and the control group (baPWV < 1550 cm/s).

RESULTS

(1) Heart rate (HR) and systolic pressure (SBP) were higher while body weight and body mass index (BMI) were smaller in AS group than the control group (all P < 0.05). (2) Compared to patients without AS, patients with AS showed lower 25(OH)D and higher rate of 25(OH)D deficiency (42 ± 16 vs. 45 ± 17 mol/l, 68% vs. 64%, all P < 0.05). (3) BaPWV was negatively associated with 25(OH)D (r = -0.12, P = 0.004), while positively associated with age, duration of diabetes, HR, SBP, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negatively associated with body weight and BMI (all P < 0.05). (4) Multiple linear regression showed that 25(OH)D was the negatively influencing factor of baPWV (β = -2.2, P = 0.01). Logistic regression showed that age and SBP were risk factor of AS (OR:1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10, P < 0.001; OR:1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04, P < 0.001) while 25(OH)D was protective factor of AS (OR:0.987, 95% CI: 0.976-0.998, P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

T2DM patients with AS had lower 25(OH)D and higher rate of 25(OH)D deficiency. There was a negative relationship between 25(OH)D and AS assessed by baPWV.

Temporal Trends in Incident Hospitalization for Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcer in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether, reflecting trends in other chronic complications, incident hospitalization for diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU) has declined over recent decades in type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants with type 2 diabetes from the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study phases I (FDS1; 1,296 participants, mean age 64.0 years, 48.6% males, recruited 1993-1996) and II (FDS2; 1,509 participants, mean age 65.4 years, 51.8% males, recruited 2008-2011) were followed from entry to first hospitalization for/with DFU, death, or 5 years (whichever came first). Incident rate ratios (IRRs) and incident rate differences (IRDs) were calculated for FDS2 versus FDS1 overall and in 10-year age-groups. Cox proportional hazards modeling determined independent predictors of first DFU hospitalization in the combined cohort.

RESULTS

Incident DFU hospitalization (95% CI) was 1.9 (0.9-3.3)/1,000 person-years in FDS1 during 5,879 person-years of follow-up and 4.5 (3.0-6.4)/1,000 person-years in FDS2 during 6,915 person-years of follow-up. The crude IRR (95% CI) was 2.40 (1.17-5.28) (P = 0.013) and IRD 2.6 (0.7-4.5)/1,000 person-years (P = 0.010). The highest IR for any age-group was 23.6/1,000 person-years in FDS2 participants aged 31-40 years. Age at diabetes diagnosis (inverse), HbA_1c, insulin use, height, ln(urinary albumin/creatinine), absence of any foot pulse, previous peripheral revascularization, and peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) were independent predictors of incident hospitalization for/with DFU.

CONCLUSIONS

Incident DFU hospitalizations complicating type 2 diabetes increased between FDS phases, especially in younger participants, and were more likely in those with PSN, peripheral arterial disease, and suboptimal glycemic control at baseline.

Traditional and non-traditional risk factors for peripheral artery disease development/progression in patients with type 2 diabetes: the Rio de Janeiro type 2 diabetes cohort study

BACKGROUND

The prognostic importance of non-traditional risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD) development/progression is scarcely studied in diabetes. We investigated if carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) added prognostic information beyond traditional cardiovascular risk markers for PAD outcomes.

METHODS

Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured at baseline and after a median of 91 months of follow-up in 681 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Multivariate Cox regressions examined the associations between the candidate variables and the outcome. PAD development/progression was defined by a reduction in ABI ≥ 0.15 (to a level < 0.9) or limb revascularization procedures, lower-extremity amputations or death due to PAD. The improvement in risk discrimination was assessed by increases in C-statistics of the models.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients developed/progressed PAD: 50 reduced ABI to < 0.9, seven had lower-limb revascularizations, and 20 had amputations or death. Age, male sex, diabetes duration, presence of microvascular complications (peripheral neuropathy and diabetic kidney disease), baseline HbA1c, 24-h systolic BP (SBP) and mean cumulative office SBP and LDL-cholesterol were associated with PAD development/progression in several models. CIMT and cf-PWV were additionally associated with PAD outcomes, and their inclusion further improved risk discrimination (with C-statistic increases between 0.025 and 0.030). The inclusion of ambulatory 24-h SBP, instead of office SBP, also improved PAD risk discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased CIMT and aortic stiffness are associated with greater risks of developing/progressing PAD, beyond traditional risk factors, in type 2 diabetes.

Relative incidence and predictors of pulmonary arterial hypertension complicating type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I

AIMS

To determine the relative incidence and predictors of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Hospitalizations for/with and death from/with PAH, and all-cause mortality, were ascertained from validated databases for participants from the longitudinal, community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (FDS1; n = 1287) and age-, sex- and zip code-matched people without diabetes (n = 5153) between entry (1993-1996) and end-2017. Incidence rates (IRs) and IR ratios (IRRs) were calculated. Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models generated cause-specific (cs) and subdistribution (sd) hazard ratios (HRs) for incident PAH.

RESULTS

In the pooled cohort (mean age 64.0 years, 49% males), 49 (3.8%) of the type 2 diabetes participants and 133 (2.6%) of those without diabetes developed PAH during 106,556 person-years of follow-up (IRs (95% CI) 262 (194-346) and 151 (127-179) /100,000 person-years, respectively; IRR 1.73 (1.22-2.42), P = 0.001). Type 2 diabetes was associated with an unadjusted csHR of 1.97 (1.42-2.74) and sdHR of 1.44 (1.04-2.00) (P ≤ 0.03); after adjustment for age, sex, and co-morbidities, these were 1.43 (0.83-2.47) and 1.36 (0.97-1.91), respectively (P ≥ 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of PAH but this is no longer significant after adjustment for other explanatory variables and the competing risk of death.

Lower extremity artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

Among all peripheral arterial diseases, lower extremity arterial disease is a serious condition in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, associated with important disability, cardiovascular risk, and socio-economic burden. Patients with both conditions generally display poorer prognosis of affected limbs compared with non-diabetic subjects, leading to increased rates of adverse limb events including amputations. Nonetheless, awareness on lower extremity arterial disease remains somehow suboptimal in the diabetic population, partly related to an atypical clinical presentation in several cases. A regular and appropriate screening for lower extremity arterial disease in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus is therefore recommended. Affected subjects should receive optimal medical treatment including careful management of the different cardiovascular risk factors through a healthy lifestyle, a regular and structured physical activity, the administration of lipid-lowering, antidiabetic drugs, and (when indicated) antihypertensive and antithrombotic drugs. This review aims to outline current evidence about lower extremity arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in order to elucidate its epidemiology, pathophysiology, screening and diagnosis, and management options.

Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4-A Circulating Protein Associated with Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetic Patients

Diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often suffer from poor clinical outcomes such as limb-loss. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is mainly expressed by adipocytes and is known to play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we sought to investigate whether FABP4 is associated with PAD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). FABP4 plasma levels were studied in 119 diabetic patients with PAD (DM-PAD) and 49 diabetic patients without PAD (DM-noPAD) presenting to St. Michael’s Hospital between October 2017 and September 2018. Levels of FABP4 in DM-PAD patients (23.34 ± 15.27 ng/mL) were found to be over two-fold higher than the levels in DM-noPAD patients (10.3 ± 7.59 ng/mL). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between FABP4 levels and DM-PAD after adjusting for age, sex, prior history of coronary arterial disease and white blood cells count (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.81–4.31; p-value = 0.001). Relative to DM-noPAD controls, plasma FABP4 levels in DM-PAD patients were noted to be inversely correlated with the ankle brachial index (ABI; r= −0.374, p-value < 0.001). The diagnostic ability of FABP4 was investigated using receiver operator curves (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analysis. FABP4 had an AUC of 0.79, which improved to 0.86 after adjusting for age, sex and prior history of coronary arterial disease. This raises a possibility of utilizing FABP4 as a biomarker for diagnosing PAD in diabetic patients.

Influence of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Lower-Respiratory Tract Infections in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether ACE inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) protect against lower-respiratory tract infections complicating type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Of 1,732 participants with diabetes recruited to the longitudinal observational Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) between 2008 and 2011, 1,482 had confirmed type 2 diabetes (mean age 65.8 years and median diabetes duration 9.0 years; 51.6% were male). All were followed for hospitalizations for or with, or deaths from, pneumonia/influenza, ascertained from validated administrative data linkage from study entry to end of 2016. Cox regression and competing risk regression were used to identify independent predictors of this outcome.

RESULTS

Two-thirds of participants (n = 982) were taking an ACEi and/or ARB at study entry (498 [33.6%] ACEi, 408 [27.5%] ARB, 76 [5.1%] both). During 9,511 person-years of follow-up (mean ± SD 6.4 ± 2.0 years), 174 participants had incident pneumonia/influenza (156 hospitalizations and 18 deaths without hospitalization). In Cox regression analysis, baseline ACEi/ARB use was independently associated with a reduced risk of incident pneumonia/influenza (cause-specific hazard ratio [HR] 0.64 [95% CI 0.45, 0.89], P = 0.008). Allowing for the competing risk of death did not change this finding (subdistribution HR 0.67 [0.48, 0.95], P = 0.024), and similar reductions were seen for ACEi, ARB alone, and ACEi/ARB combination therapy. There was no significant change in use of ACEi/ARB during follow-up [interaction with ln(time), P = 0.70]. Other significant predictors of incident pneumonia/influenza were previously reported, clinically plausible variables.

CONCLUSIONS

ACEi/ARB reduce the risk of pneumonia/influenza in people with type 2 diabetes.

Complementary and alternative medicine beliefs in type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

Complementary medicine (CM) treatment beliefs of people with type 2 diabetes were assessed using a validated three-domain questionnaire. Belief in holistic health, but not natural treatments or participation in treatment, was independently associated with CM use (P = 0.003). Strong holistic health beliefs could identify present/future CM use, with potential management implications.

Prediction and early detection of cardiovascular disease in South Asians with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is no longer considered "coronary heart disease risk equivalent", the risk remains sufficiently high, necessitating early recognition and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in these patients. Despite this understanding, the optimum strategy for prediction and early detection of CVD in DM remains debatable.

METHODS

Major societal guidelines for prediction and evaluation of CVD in subjects with or without DM were reviewed. Available evidence about various risk stratification strategies-their advantages, disadvantages and current role in clinical practice-were extensively reviewed. Special emphasis was placed on evidence from South Asian/Indian populations.

RESULTS

The inconsistency and variability inherent to the clinical risk algorithms, lack of consensus regarding the incremental value of subclinical atherosclerosis imaging and the lack of sufficient data to demonstrate the benefits of recognizing asymptomatic atherosclerotic disease are some of the reasons underlying prevailing uncertainty about the optimum approach for cardiovascular risk assessment in DM. These challenges notwithstanding, an evidence-based cardiovascular risk stratification strategy incorporating clinical risk algorithms, biomarkers, atherosclerosis imaging, and cardiac stress testing is proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed algorithm should help clinicians in optimizing cardiovascular evaluation and management of their patients with DM. However, this remains a dynamic field; further research into different risk assessment tools, esp. focusing on their impact on improving clinical outcomes, should help refine the evaluation strategy in future.

Temporal Trends in Cardiovascular Complications in People With or Without Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

CONTEXT

There is evidence that diabetes-related complications are declining but most data sources have limitations.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize temporal changes in incidence rates (IRs) of chronic complications and mortality in well-characterized, community-based Australians.

DESIGN

Longitudinal observational study.

SETTING

Urban population.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants with type 2 diabetes from the Fremantle Diabetes Study phases I (FDS1; n = 1291 recruited 1993-1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1509 recruited 2008-2011) age-, sex,- and ZIP code-matched 1:4 to people without diabetes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

First hospitalizations for/with myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure (HF), lower extremity amputation, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Five-year IRs, IR ratios for those with versus without diabetes in FDS1 and FDS2, and IR differences (IRDs), were calculated.

RESULTS

The 13,995 participants had a mean age of 64.8 years and 50.4% were males. There were lower IR ratios for MI, stroke, HF, and CVD death in FDS2 versus FDS1. IRDs for people with versus without type 2 diabetes had reduced by >50% between phases for MI, stroke, HF, lower extremity amputation, and CVD death, with no change in IRD for all-cause mortality. Within the pooled type 2 diabetes cohort, FDS2 versus FDS1 participation was an independent inverse predictor of stroke, HF, CVD death, and all-cause mortality after adjustment in Cox proportional hazards models.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular outcomes in Australians have improved since the 1990s, especially in type 2 diabetes. The difference in all-cause mortality between those with and without type 2 diabetes has persisted despite longer survival.

Poor Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Biopsy-Proven Diabetic Nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Despite the high mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetic patients with renal injury, few studies have compared cardiovascular characteristics and outcomes between patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD).

METHODS

A total of 326 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with renal biopsy were assigned to DN and NDRD groups. Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound were performed to evaluate left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and peripheral atherosclerosis disease (PAD). Renal and cardiovascular survival rates were compared between the DN and NDRD groups by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Risk factors for renal and cardiovascular events in DN patients were identified by a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

In total, 179 patients entered the DN group (54.9%) and 147 made up the NDRD group (45.1%). The presence of diabetic retinopathy, family history of diabetes, and dependence on insulin therapy were associated with the presence of DN. DN patients had more CVD with more severe LVH and PAD. Poorer renal (log-rank χ2 = 26.534, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular (log-rank χ2 = 16.257, p < 0.001) prognoses were seen in the DN group. DR (HR 1.539, 95% CI 1.332-1.842), eGFR (HR 0.943, 95% CI 0.919-0.961), and 24-h proteinuria (HR 1.211, 95% CI 1.132-1.387) were identified as risk factors for renal endpoints. Age (HR 1.672, 95% CI 1.487-1.821), HbA1C (HR 1.398, 95% CI 1.197-1.876), and 24-h proteinuria (HR 1.453, 95% CI 1.289-1.672) were associated with cardiovascular endpoints.

CONCLUSION

Patients with DN had more severe CVD along with poorer renal and cardiovascular prognoses than those with NDRD.

A comparison of obesity indices in relation to mortality in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

This prospective association study aimed to compare the relationship between each of four obesity indices and mortality risk in people with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

The associations of BMI, waist circumference, WHR and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) with all-cause mortality were analysed in 1282 participants of the Fremantle Diabetes Study, followed for up to 20 years after baseline assessment. Models were adjusted for age and other confounders; assessments as continuous measures and by quintile were carried out for men and women separately. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to minimise reverse causality.

RESULTS

When indices were assessed as continuous variables, there were significant bivariate associations with mortality for: ABSI, which was greater in both men and women who died (p < 0.001); WHR, which was greater in women only (p = 0.033); and BMI, which was lower in women only (p < 0.001). When assessed by quintile, there were significant bivariate associations with mortality for ABSI in men and women (p < 0.001) and BMI in women only (p = 0.002). In Cox models of time to death, adjusted for age, diabetes duration, ethnicity and smoking, ABSI quintiles showed a linear trend for both men (p = 0.003) and women (p = 0.035). Men in the fifth ABSI quintile had an increased mortality risk compared with those in the first quintile (HR [95% CI]: 1.74 [1.24, 2.44]) and women in the fifth ABSI quintile had an increased mortality risk that approached statistical significance (1.42 [0.97, 2.08], p = 0.08). Men in the fifth WHR quintile had an increased mortality risk (1.47 [1.05, 2.06]). There was no association between mortality and BMI or waist circumference in either sex.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

ABSI was the obesity index most strongly associated with all-cause mortality in Australians with type 2 diabetes. There was no evidence for an obesity paradox with any of the assessed indices. ABSI may be a better index of central obesity than waist circumference, BMI or WHR when assessing mortality risk in type 2 diabetes.