title: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and other risk factors of atherosclerosis in bradycardia requiring pacemaker treatment.
abstract: 258 patients with pacemakers (PM) were examined retrospectively; 126 (48.8%) had second- or third-degree av-block (AVB), 43 (16.7%) atrial fibrillation with bradycardia (AFB), 63 (24.4%) sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and 26 (10.1%) other indications (OI). Control persons (CP) of same age and sex with regular sinus rhythm were recruited from in-patients of our hospital. Diabetes was found in 127 (49.2%) of PM (of adult onset only) and in 99 (38.4%) of CP (3 of juvenile onset; p < 0.025), in 68 (53.9%) of the patients with AVP (p < 0.05), 24 (55.8%) with AFB, 21 (33.3%) with SSS (n.s.) and 14 (53.8%) with OI (n.s.). Obesity was positively correlated concerning the entire PM group, blood pressure and smoking habits showed no correlation, cholesterol and triglycerides were inversely correlated (p < 0.05 up to p < 0.001). Myocardial infarction showed no difference between PM and CP, digitalis and diuretics were taken significantly more often (p < 0.001) by PM. We conclude that diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for av-block of higher degree and atrial fibrillation with bradycardia, which is not influenced by other, diabetes-related risk factors of atherosclerosis.
authors: Medizinische Klinik, Ruhr-Universität im Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Bochum, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Podlaha
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Falk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors