Effect of Diabetes on Laboratory Markers in Patients with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

Abstract

Background: Diabetic population are at high cardiovascular risk especially in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. This study aimed to investigate the role of diabetes in affecting the main biochemical and haematological markers in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study recruited patients who were admitted and diagnosed as NSTE-ACS, data were collected from patients using a prepared printed form that recorded patients′ age, comorbidities and results of investigations. Patients were categorized into diabetics and non-diabetics. Results: Ninety-nine patients were enrolled, 39.4% were diabetic, mean age of diabetics was (61.3±10.9) years vs (57.7±12.6) years in non-diabetics, diabetic patients were more to be females 23.1% vs 21.7%, more to have IHD history 58.97% vs 35%, more be hypertensive 69.2% vs 55%, less to be smokers 33.3% vs 38.3% and hyperlipidaemic 30.8% vs 33.3% when compared to non-diabetic counterparts, however, the differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups did not reach statistical significance apart from the more reported history of IHD in diabetics; p=0.019. Diabetic patients tend to be presented more with dyspnoea compared to non-diabetics 41% vs 26.7%. Positive troponin was more to be positive in diabetics (48.7% vs 40%), diabetic patients tend to have higher urea (46.2±19.2 vs 39.6±23.6) and higher creatinine (1.07±0.37 vs 0.95±0.37). Random blood sugar (268.3±115 vs 125.5±50.2, p<0.001) and serum potassium (4.4±0.63 vs 4.12±0.52, p=0.015) were significantly higher in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Apart from higher blood glucose and serum potassium levels, in the setting of NSTE-ACS; presence of diabetes has no remarkable impact on biochemical and haematological markers when compared to non-diabetic population. This needs larger studies in the future to validate these findings and to assess the prognostic significance of laboratory markers in diabetics with acute coronary syndromes especially in low-resources countries where more sophisticated markers are not feasible.