The contribution of diabetes mellitus per se to the severity of coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common chronic, life-threatening illness in many Western countries. The risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome in diabetics are generally considered more important in the evolution of CAD than the diabetic state itself.


OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the contribution of diabetes mellitus to the characteristics and severity of coronary artery disease among young patients.


METHODS
Thirty diabetics (group 1) were selected from a group of young patients ( <or= 45 years) with ischaemic heart disease, which was documented angiographically. For this retrospective, case-controlled study, 60 non-diabetic patients with CAD (group 2) were matched for gender, age, LDL level, hypertension, smoking, family history and obesity. These diabetic and nondiabetic groups were compared for different outcomes of coronary artery disease.


RESULTS
Group 1 had a higher incidence of three-vessel coronary involvement (56.7 vs 20%; p < 0.05) and more hospitalisations for ischaemic episodes (4 +/- 4.5 vs 2.1 +/- 1.8; p < 0.05) than group 2. They also had more previous myocardial infarctions, longer intervals between their first admission and the current hospitalisation, and more common left main coronary artery disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes mellitus contributes significantly to the severity of CAD.
Javidi
Daryoosh
D
Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Department, Shariati and Mahrad Hospitals, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Gharaei
Babak
B
Fateh
Soheil
S
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors