Incidence and predictors of silent myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetes and the effect of fenofibrate: an analysis from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and predictors of, and effects of fenofibrate on silent myocardial infarction (MI) in a large contemporary cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes in the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study.


RESULTS
Routine electrocardiograms taken throughout the study were assessed by Minnesota-code criteria for the presence of new Q-waves without clinical presentation and analysed with blinding to treatment allocation and clinical outcome. Of all MIs, 36.8% were silent. Being male, older age, longer diabetes duration, prior cardiovascular disease (CVD), neuropathy, higher HbA(1c), albuminuria, high serum creatinine, and insulin use all significantly predicted risk of clinical or silent MI. Fenofibrate reduced MI (clinical or silent) by 19% [hazard ratio (HR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-0.94; P = 0.006], non-fatal clinical MI by 24% (P = 0.01), and silent MI by 16% (P = 0.16). Among those having silent MI, fenofibrate reduced subsequent clinical CVD events by 78% (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08-0.65; P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Silent and clinical MI have similar risk factors and increase the risk of future CVD events. Fenofibrate reduces the risk of a first MI and substantially reduces the risk of further clinical CVD events after silent MI, supporting its use in type 2 diabetes.
Burgess
David C
DC
NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Locked Bag 77, Camperdown, NSW 1450, Australia.
Hunt
David
D
Li
Liping
L
Zannino
Diana
D
Williamson
Elizabeth
E
Davis
Timothy M E
TM
Laakso
Markku
M
Kesäniemi
Y Antero
YA
Zhang
Jun
J
Sy
Raymond W
RW
Lehto
Seppo
S
Mann
Stewart
S
Keech
Anthony C
AC
D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011345:Fenofibrate