Non-diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome Research Articles

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors in acute coronary syndrome patients on endothelial function and atherosclerosis related-biomarkers: ATH-SGLT2i pilot study.

Little is known about the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on atherosclerosis. We aimed to determine if a 90-day intake of Dapagliflozin could improve atherosclerosis biomarkers (namely endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilatation [FMD] and carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT]) in diabetic and non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients when initiated in the early in-hospital phase. ATH-SGLT2i was a prospective, single-center, observational trial that included 113 SGLT2i naive patients who were admitted for ACS and who were prescribed Dapagliflozin at a fixed dose of 10 mg during their hospital stay for either type 2 diabetes or for heart failure. After 90 days of follow-up, subjects who had a continuous intake of Dapagliflozin formed the SGLT2i group, while patients who did not take Dapagliflozin formed the non-SGLT2i group. In each of these main study groups, we considered diabetic and non-diabetic subgroups. The primary endpoint was the difference in between baseline and 90 days in FMD (∆FMD) and in FMD rate (∆FMD%). The secondary outcome was change in CIMT (∆CIMT). We enrolled 54 patients in the SGLT2i group aged 59 ± 9 years (70.4% males) which 30 were diabetics, and 59 in the non-SGLT2i group aged 63 ± 11 years (78% males) which 34 were diabetics. After 90 days, ∆FMD and ∆ FMD% were higher in the SGLT2i group in comparison with the non-SGLT2i group (0.05 ± 0.15 vs -0.05 ± 0.11, P < .001 and 1.78 ± 3.63 vs -0.88 ± 4, P < .001). Within the SGLT2i group, the improvement of FMD% was higher in non-diabetic patients (2.85 ± 3.46 vs 0.9 ± 3.59, P = .05). Multivariate analysis showed that Dapagliflozin intake was independently associated with FMD% improvement (HR = 2.24). After 90 days, CIMT showed no significant difference between the SGLT2i and the non-SGLT2i groups. In this pilot study, a 90-day intake of Dapagliflozin at the fixed dose of 10 mg started in the acute phase of an ACS, was associated with endothelial function improvement in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Association of HBA1C with severity of coronary artery disease in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome

Association of HBA1C with severity of coronary artery disease in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome

The Relationship Between Admission Insulin Resistance Index (AIRI) and In-Hospital Outcome in Non-Diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cardiovascular problem due to its high hospitalization and mortality rates. One of the risk factors for atherosclerosis that leads to ACS is insulin resistance (IR) which plays a role in the pathogenesis and development of cardiovascular events. This study aims to determine the relationship between IR and in-hospital outcomes in non-diabetic patients with ACS. This was a cohort study conducted from January-June 2021. Insulin resistance was assessed using the Admission insulin resistance index (AIRI). This measurement was performed once during the patient's admission, and then the outcome was observed during hospitalization. The observed in-hospital outcomes were composite outcomes; namely, heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock, and death. The statistical tests used were ANOVA, independent T and Chi-Square tests. Statistical test results were considered significant if p<0.05. This study included 60 subjects (51 males and 9 females). Analysis revealed that AIRI was higher in patients with composite outcomes (mean 9.97 ± 4.08) than in patients without composite outcomes (mean 7.71 ± 4.06) (p<0.05); AIRI was higher in patients with heart failure (mean 10.72 ± 3.83) than in patients without heart failure (mean 7.25 ± 3.84) (p<0.001). Patients with IR had a higher rate of heart failure complications [OR 5.5 95% CI (1.56-19.38) (p=0.005)]. There is an association between AIRI and composite outcomes. Patients with IR have 5.5 times the risk of developing heart failure.

Comparison of Safety and Effectiveness of Bivalirudin Between Diabetic and Nondiabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Recurrent thrombotic events remain significantly high in spite of the currently recommended dual antiplatelet (DAPT) and conventional antithrombotic heparin (± GPI/ glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor) in diabetic ACS patients after PCI compared with non-diabetic even this drug eluting stent (DES) era. Therefore, more potent antithrombotic therapies are warranted for this group of high-risk patients.Comparison of safety and efficacy of newer anticoagulant bivalirudin between diabetic and non-diabetic ACS patients undergoing PCI using bivalirudin versus heparin (± GPI) is less well defined in Bangladeshi population. Objective: To determine and compare the incidence of 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), stent thrombosis and hemorrhagic complications between diabetic and non-diabetic ACS patients undergoing PCI. Impact of antithrombotic strategy (bivalirudin vs. heparin ± GPI) on the 30- day post PCI clinical outcome was also evaluated and compared between diabetic and non-diabetic subgroup. Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 500 ACS patients aged 18-75 years (200diabetic and 300 non-diabetics) who underwent PCI from November 2018 to October 2019 at the department of cardiology, BSMMU, were randomly assigned, in an open-label fashion to treatment with bivalirudin alone, heparin alone, or heparin plus eptifibatide (GPI) in a 1:1:1 ratio. Among them, 200 patients received Bivalirudin with a loading dose of 0.75 mg/kg, followed by an infusion of 1.75 mg/kg/h for up to 4 hours, 153 patients received UFH with a bolus of 70-100 U/kg (targeted ACT: 200-250 s) and 147 patients got heparin plus eptifibatide as 60 IU/kg heparin along with 180 μg/kg eptifibatide i.v. boluses, followed by a 2 μg /kg /min eptifibatide infusion for 18 hr consistent with current guidelines.Other pre- and post-procedural medications got under current guidelines. Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects were subdivided into bivalirudin and control group (heparin ± GPI). In diabetic cohort, 100 patients were in bivalirudin and 100 patients were in control group. Among non -diabetic patients, 100 were in bivalirudin and 200 were in control group. The outcome measures were 30-day hemorrhagic complications, stent thrombosis, and MACCEs [death, MI, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stroke] according to diabetic status. The diabetic and non-diabetic subgroup was also analyzed for the same outcome measure according to antithrombotic strategy. Peri and post PCI clinical follow-up comprised checking office visits and telephone contacts. Results: According to diabetic status, net adverse clinical events (NACEs) were significantly higher in diabetic in comparison to non-diabetic (diabetic vs. non-diabetic, 15% vs. 7.6 %, P=0.008) and was associated with higher incidence of MACCEs (10.5% vs. 4.0%, P=0.004), cardiac death (4 % vs. 1 %, P=0.02) and BARC 2,3,5 grade bleeding events (9% vs. 4 %, P=0.02). In diabetic cohort, incidence of 30-day NACEs was significantly lower in bivalirudin than control group(bivalirudin vs. UFH ± GPI, 6 % vs. 24 %, P=0.004) and was associated with lower incidence of MACCEs (2% vs. 8.5%, P=0.03) and bleeding events (3 % vs. 15 %, P=0.003) whereas incidence of stent thrombosis (2 % vs. 3%, P =0.651) was comparable between the bivalirudin and control groups. There was a significant advantage in favor of bivalirudin treatment among insulin-treated patients with regard to cardiac death at 30-day (bivalirudin vs. control group, 0% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.03) compared with non-insulin treat diabetic patients. However, subgroup analysis of the nondiabetic patients showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of 30-Day NACEs (4% vs. 9.5%, P=0.09) according anticoagulant status. Multivariate analysis showed that bivalirudin (HR: 0. 202, 95% CI: 0.078 – 0.519, P=0.009) was independent protective factor of 30-day NACEs for diabetic patients. Conclusion: Bivalirudin monotherapy is safer and more efficacious for diabetic ACS patients compared with non-diabetic ACS patients undergoing PCI. J Dhaka Med Coll. 2022; 31(1) : 126-136

Serum Lipoprotein Ratios as Markers for Insulin Resistance Among Non-Diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Background: Insulin resistance is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some studies concluded that serum lipoproteins levels and hence lipoprotein ratios were altered in patients with insulin resistance. Objective: To identify the possibility of using lipoprotein ratios as markers for insulin resistance. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in Baghdad (Medical City) and in Maysan (Al Shaheed Al Sadir Teaching Hospital) from February to December 2020. Eighty-three male and 51 female in Coronary Care Unit and Internal Medicine Wards patients were selected in the study group. Results: Lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher in individuals with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.5 as compared to subjects with HOMA-IR &lt;2.5. There was a statistically significant association between lipoprotein ratios and insulin resistance when HOMA-IR ≥2.5 (P less than 0.05). Fasting insulin correlated significantly with lipoprotein ratios. Conclusion: Serum lipoprotein ratios and the best one is triglyceride/high density lipoprotein cholesterol could be used as markers for insulin resistance. Keywords: Lipoprotein ratios, insulin resistance, diabetes Citation: Issa EF, Rasheed MK. Serum lipoprotein ratios as markers for insulin resistance among non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients with impaired fasting glucose. Iraqi JMS. 2022; 20(2): 239-244. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.20.2.11

Association between HBA1C and Coronary Artery Disease Severity in patients of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 presented as Acute Coronary Artery Syndrome and Non Diabetic

Aim: to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and association of HbA1c with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients presenting at tertiary care center as acute coronary syndrome and non-diabetic. Study Design: Prospective observational study Duration and Place Study was conducted at department of general medicine Nishter Hospital, Multan from January 2021 to January 2022 in 1 year duration. Methodology: A total of 200 patients were enrolled in study. Main variables of study were BMI, smoking status, dyslipidemia, hypertension, STEMI, angina, HbA1c and treatment strategy. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. P value below or equal to 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Among total 83.5% patients intervened by therapeutic, whereas 48.0% used thrombolytic drug in STEMI. 70.7% patients were thrombolysis in therapeutic intervention and 44.8% were streptokinase in thrombolytic drug. In fasting blood sugar, 53.0% patients were diabetic, whereas in HbA1c levels, 52.3% patients were diabetic. Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of testing for diabetes in individuals in poor nations who report with non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome. One of manifestations of diabetes mellitus may be the acute coronary syndrome. Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, Coronary angiography, Diabetes, HbA1c.

Concordance between Triglyceride Glucose Index and Admission Insulin Resistance Index in Non-diabetic Subjects of Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death in the world and is closely related to insulin resistance (IR). The examination of the triglyceride glucose (TyG) Index and admission IR index (AIRI) can be an alternative examination to assess IR. AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze the concordance between the TyG index and AIRI in assessing IR in nondiabetic subjects of ACS. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from ACS patient medical records in Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital Makassar from September 2020 until April 2021. An examination of RBG, TyG, and fasting insulin was performed. The statistical test results were considered significant if the p &lt; 0.05. RESULTS: This study included 67 subjects, of which 54 were male and 13 were female, there were 24 people aged &lt;50 years, 43 people aged 50 years old, with a mean of 55.15 ± 12.71 years, a diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 25 people, non STEMI 34 people and unstable angina pectoris 8 people, p &lt; 0.05. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the cut-off value of the TyG index in predicting AIRI was 3141, with a sensitivity of 88.98% and specificity of 59.09%. The OR value revealed that subjects with a TyG index of &gt;9.06 indicated an 11-time greater risk for IR than subjects with a TyG index ≤9.06. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant concordance between the TyG index and the AIRI in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patient.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and association of HbA1c with severity of coronary artery disease in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome

BackgroundAcute coronary syndrome (ACS) indicates the serious clinical manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is closely associated with cardiovascular prognosis in patients with ACS. This study was aimed to study the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the relation of HbA1c with the severity of CAD in patients presenting as non-diabetic ACS. Diabetic status of the patients was assessed with fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c levels, and coronary artery disease burden was assessed by coronary angiography.ResultsOut of 208 patients, 85.1% were males, and 14.9% were females; 73.56% cases were hypertensive. 80.77% of cases had STEMI, 17.79% had NSTEMI, and 1.44% had unstable angina. Out of 168 STEMI patients, 64.3% were thrombolysed, 21.42% presented late, 2.38% had contraindications to thrombolysis, and 11.9% underwent primary PCI. FBS in diabetic range was found in 44.23% of cases, impaired FBS in 36.54%, and 19.23% of patients had FBS in non-diabetic range. According to HbA1c, 41.8% were diabetic, 39.4% were pre-diabetic, and 18.8% were non-diabetic. A significant positive correlation was found between HbA1c and Gensini score and between HbA1c and the number of vessels involved.ConclusionThis study emphasises the importance of evaluating the presence of diabetes in patients presenting as non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome in developing countries. Acute coronary syndrome may be considered as one of the presentations of diabetes mellitus.

Profile of Non-Diabetic patients with Microalbuminuria in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A hospital based study

Background and Aims: Microalbuminuria (MA) (urinary albumin excretion of 30-299 mg/d in a 24 hours collection or 30-299 μg/mg creatinine in a spot collection) is well accepted marker of micro and macrovascular damage in patients with diabetes mellitus and is considered as a surrogate marker for endothelial dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This study has been undertaken to investigate the prevalence of microalbuminuria among non-diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients.&#x0D; Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study of 100 consecutive non-diabetic ACS patients was done. Traditional risk factors (like smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity) of coronary artery disease were studied for the association with microalbuminuria in study subjects. Investigations were carried out in all the cases as per proforma and entered in the SPSS software for analysis.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic ACS patients in the study was 73% which was statistically significant (p=0.04). A statistically significant higher prevalence of microalbuminuria was seen with different presentations of ACS; being highest (81.96%) in NSTEMI followed by STEMI (63.15%) and Unstable Angina (55%). It was found to be significant with the history of smoking (81.25%, p=0.013) and hypertension (82.25%, p=0.013). No significant association was found with age, body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia. A statistically significant higher prevalence of microalbuminuria was seen with increasing number of risk factors.&#x0D; Conclusion: There is increased prevalence of microalbuminuria in ACS patents. MA was associated with statistically higher number of cases with history of smoking and hypertension and presence of increasing number of risk factors.

Admission plasma glucose levels within the normal to mildly impaired range and the outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Elevated admission plasma glucose levels >140 mg/dl are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to evaluate the association between admission plasma glucose levels <140 mg/dl and the outcome of non-diabetic patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome. The study population consisted of patients with acute coronary syndrome included in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey during 2000-2013. Diabetic patients were excluded. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at one year. The 452 0 patients had a mean age of 61.7±13.5 years and were stratified into four quartiles according to admission plasma glucose (60-94, 95-105, 106-119, 120-140 mg/dl). Patients with higher admission plasma glucose were older and included a higher percentage of smokers. In addition, the higher the glucose so also did they have a poorer risk factor profile including a higher body mass index, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. During the first year 5.2% of patients died. A comparison of one-year mortality according to admission plasma glucose quartiles demonstrated a significant and progressive increase in mortality risk as admission plasma glucose rose (3.5%, 4.1%, 6.1%, 6.4%, respectively, p=0.001). However, this association lost its clinical significance following a multivariate analysis ( p=0.08). High admission plasma glucose levels within the normal to mildly impaired range are associated with increased one-year mortality in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients. However, the higher glucose level is probably not the cause for the adverse outcome but rather a marker for high risk. Our findings support the definition of 140 mg/dl as the cutoff for clinically acceptable admission glucose levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Serum lipoprotein ratios as markers of insulin resistance: a study among non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients with impaired fasting glucose.

Recent data suggest that insulin resistance can predict cardiovascular disease independently of the other risk factors, such as hypertension, visceral obesity or dyslipidaemia. However, the majority of available methods to evaluate insulin resistance are complicated to operate, expensive, and time consuming. This study was undertaken to assess whether serum lipoprotein ratios could predict insulin resistance in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Ninety non-diabetic patients with impaired fasting glucose admitted with a diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. At the time of admission fasting glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. The homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used for insulin resistance. The fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were checked, and then TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios were calculated. The areas under the curves (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the power of these serum lipoprotein ratios as markers. Lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher in patients with HOMA-IR index > 2.5 as compared to patients with index <2.5 (P < 0.05). Both TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of the TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio for predicting insulin resistance was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0.93), 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.91), respectively. The findings of this study demonstrate that serum lipoprotein ratios can provide a simple means of identifying insulin resistance and can be used as markers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases risk in adult non-diabetic patients.

Lipoprotein ratios as surrogate markers for insulin resistance in South indians with normoglycemic nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome.

Background. Insulin resistance has been associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. Even though homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is a well-known insulin resistance predictor, estimation of serum lipoprotein ratios has been recently suggested as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance. Here, we evaluated the relationship between lipoprotein ratios and insulin resistance in normoglycemic nondiabetic south Indians with acute coronary syndrome. Methods. 100 normoglycemic nondiabetic ACS patients and 140 controls were enrolled in the study. Levels of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels were measured and lipoprotein ratios were computed. HOMA-IR was used to calculate the insulin resistance. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) analysis was used to compare the power of these lipoprotein ratios to predict insulin resistance. Results. Lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher in normoglycemic nondiabetic ACS patients, as compared to healthy controls, and were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR by Spearman's rank correlation analysis. ROC curve showed that Lp(a)/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios were the best surrogate predictors of insulin resistance in normoglycemic nondiabetic ACS. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that serum lipoprotein ratios significantly correlate with insulin resistance in normoglycemic nondiabetic ACS. Lp(a)/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios could be used as surrogate markers of insulin resistance in atherosclerosis-prone south Indians with normoglycemic nondiabetic ACS.

Relationship between HbA1c levels and coronary artery severity in nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome patients

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between HbA1c levels and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without diabetes mellitus. In this study, we included 65 patients (11 females, mean age: 57±11.42 years; 54 males, mean age: 54.56±8.51 years) who were diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction without diabetes mellitus. During hospitalization, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1C were measured in each patient. Gensini score was used to assess the severity of coronary artery disease. Twenty patients (30.8%) had hypertension, 15 (23.1%) had impaired fasting glucose, 10 (15.3%) had combined impaired fasting and postprandial glucose, 28 had a low HDL cholesterol (45%), and 30 (46%) had abdominal obesity. Coronary angiography revealed one-vessel disease in 13 patients (20%), and two- and three-vessel disease in 52 patients (80%). There were no significant differences in terms of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and postprandial glucose (0.068, 0.974, 0.178, 0.677, respectively). There was no significant relation between the Gensini score and HbA1c levels (p=0.299), but there was a significant relation between the Gensini score and obesity (p=0.024). In our study, no significant relationship could be determined between the Gensini score and HbA1C, fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and hs-CRP levels in patients with nondiabetic ACSs.

Relationship between HbA1c levels and coronary artery severity in nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome patients

Relationship between HbA1c levels and coronary artery severity in nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome patients

A simple way to identify insulin resistance in non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients with impaired fasting glucose

Background and Objective:The incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in India. Recent data suggesting insulin resistance can predict cardiovascular disease independently of the other risk factors, such as hypertension, visceral obesity, or dyslipidemia, so a focus on the relation between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and insulin resistance is relevant. Several studies addressing serum lipoprotein ratios as surrogates for insulin resistance have found promising results. We analyzed the association of lipoprotein ratios with the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).Methods:One hundred non-diabetic patients with impaired fasting glucose admitted with a diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. Admission fasting glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. The HOMA-IR was used to calculate insulin resistance. The fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels are used to calculate following lipid ratios: TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C. The areas under the curves (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to compare the power of these serum lipoprotein ratio markers.Results:Lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher in patients with HOMA Index >2 as compared to patients with Index <2. TG/HDL-C ratio and TC/HDL-C ratio were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR (P < 0.05) as obtained by Pearson's correlation analysis (r = 0.4459, P = 0.0012; r = 0.4815, P = 0.0004; r = 0.3993; P = 0.0041, respectively). The area under the ROC curve of the TG/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios for predicting insulin resistance was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.67-0.93), 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65-0.91), respectively.Conclusion:A plasma TG/HDL-C ratio and TC/HDL-C ratio provide a simple means of identifying insulin resistant and can be used as the markers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases risk in adult non-diabetic patients.

The Magnitude of the Variation in Glycemia: A New Parameter for Risk Assessment in Acute Coronary Syndrome?

The aim was to evaluate the relationship between the magnitude of the variation in the level of glycemia during hospitalization and in-hospital and long-term mortality and postdischarge endpoints in two groups of patients with acute coronary syndrome: those with and those without a previous diagnosis of diabetes. The study included 1210 patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome between May 2004 and July 2007. The study population was divided in two subgroups: patients with a previous diagnosis of diabetes (n=386) and nondiabetics (n=824). Each subgroup was further divided into four smaller groups according to the quartile of glycemia variation: diabetics (Q1: <46 mg/dl; Q2: 46-88 mg/dl; Q3: 88-164 mg/dl; Q4: >or=164 mg/dl) and nondiabetics (Q1: <14 mg/dl; Q2: 14-30 mg/dl; Q3: 30-60 mg/dl; Q4: >or=60 mg/dl). Patients were followed up for an average of 18 months after the occurrence of the acute coronary syndrome. In diabetic patients, there was no relationship between the magnitude of the glycemia variation and in-hospital or postdischarge endpoints. In nondiabetics, no significant difference was observed in in-hospital mortality or morbidity, but statistically significant clinical differences were found during follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis showed that Q4 versus Q1, age >or=70 years, and previous antiplatelet or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy were independent predictors of postdischarge endpoints in the nondiabetic group. In nondiabetic acute coronary syndrome patients, the magnitude of the variation in glycemia observed during hospitalization was a strong independent predictor of postdischarge clinical endpoints.

Inflammatory activity increases with haemoglobin A1c in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective. To study the relationship between inflammation, diabetes and HbA1c levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Design. Single-centre cross-sectional study comprising 688 consecutive patients with ACS (108 with diabetes) and 341 with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) (51 with diabetes). High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), albumin and fibrinogen concentrations, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) and leukocyte counts were measured. Results. hsCRP, fibrinogen and ESR levels were higher and albumin lower in ACS patients. ESR was higher, albumin lower and hsCRP borderline significantly higher (p=0.053) in ACS patient with diabetes compared to those without. All inflammatory markers were associated with HbA1c in all 688 ACS patients as well as in 540 non-diabetic ACS patients with normal HbA1c. In multivariate analyses, all inflammatory markers were independently associated with HbA1c in the entire ACS group, regardless of diabetes being present or not. When non-diabetic ACS patients were analyzed separately, only ESR and leukocyte counts were independently correlated with HbA1c. Conclusions. Patients with ACS had increased inflammatory activity, which increased with HbA1c levels in patients who neither had a history of diabetes nor HbA1c above normal, and was further exaggerated in the presence of diabetes.