Apolipoprotein E genotype and mortality in Southern European and Anglo-Celt patients with type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cardiac and all-cause mortality are lower in Southern European (SE) patients than in Anglo-Celt (AC) patients with type 2 diabetes in an urban Australian setting, and, if so, whether ethnicity-specific differences in apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes are contributory.


METHODS
Longitudinal observational cohort study.


METHODS
We analysed detailed data from 1057 patients from the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study, 238 were of an SE migrant background and 819 of AC ethnicity. Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to identify independent predictors of cardiac and all-cause mortality.


RESULTS
During 9.8±3.5 years of follow-up, 411 (38.9%) participants died, 161 (39.2%) from cardiac causes. Significant positive baseline independent predictors of cardiac death were age, male gender, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy (P≤0.004), while maternal history of diabetes was protective (P=0.014). After adjusting for these variables, APOE4 carriage was predictive (hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.61 (1.01-2.58); P=0.048). SE ethnicity did not add significantly to the model either as a single variable or as an interaction term with APOE4 carriage (P≥0.86). Significant independent predictors of all-cause mortality were age, male gender, smoking, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and microalbuminuria (P≤0.047), while overweight/obesity, lipid-lowering therapy and recent exercise were protective (P≤0.008). APOE4 carriage, SE ethnicity and their interaction did not add to the model (P≥0.32).


CONCLUSIONS
SE ethnicity does not confer an independent survival advantage in community-based Australian type 2 diabetic patients, but APOE4 carriers are at higher risk of cardiac death.
Davis
Wendy A
WA
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Fremantle Hospital, University of Western Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.
Chin
Eunice
E
Jee
Adelle
A
Martins
Jen
J
Bruce
David G
DG
Beilby
John
J
Davis
Timothy M E
TM
D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001315:Australia; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044465:White People
D001057:Apolipoproteins E