title: Abdominal aortic aneurysms--glycaemic status and mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and mortality with respect to glycaemic status in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) was evaluated. Glycaemic status was assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and by HbA1c.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with AAA admitted to the vascular surgery unit for elective surgery between October 2006 and September 2007 were included. Seven patients had previously known DM. OGTT and HbA1c results were available from 58 patients. The patients were categorized as having DM, prediabetes and normoglycaemia according to the WHO's and American Diabetes Association's criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of newly diagnosed DM according to the OGTT and HbA1c results were 12% and 14% respectively. Mean follow-up time was 68 months and all-cause mortality 43%. HbA1c was an independent predictor for mortality in the DM category. Hazard ratio of all-cause mortality in the DM category defined by the HbA1c values was 6.35, 95% [CI 1.49-27.1]; p = 0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DM defined by HbA1c ≥ 6.5% is an important determinant of mortality following surgical treatment for AAA. Half the patients with AAA and DM were unaware of their DM diagnosis. All patients with AAA should be tested for DM using HbA1c. The results should be confirmed in a larger prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, 5021, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: iren.hjellestad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Iren Drange
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Hjellestad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, 5021, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Søfteland
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Roy Miodini
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, 5021, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Eystein Sverre
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Husebye
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Vascular Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jonung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Diabetes mellitus; Glycaemic status; HbA(1c); Mortality; OGTT