New research highlights the close connection between diabetes and cardiovascular issues
Diabetes is much more common among patients with chronic coronary syndromes than it is in the general population, according to a new international study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Researchers tracked data from more than 32,000 heart patients from 45 different countries. Patients were excluded if they had been admitted to the hospital for a cardiovascular condition in the three months prior to enrollment.
Overall, the team found that 29% of patients with chronic coronary syndromes had diabetes. In the world’s general population, on the other hand, that number is less than 10%. Also, the risk of every adverse clinical outcome measured in the study was much higher when a heart patient had diabetes.
“Patients with diabetes remain at high risk of adverse cardiovascular events,” wrote lead author Mark Koon Hou, MD, MBBS, a cardiologist at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore, and colleagues. “This is true worldwide, across geographic regions and ethnicities, although the challenge is even greater in some regions where the prevalence of diabetes is extremely high such as the Middle East. In parallel with worldwide efforts to reduce overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets responsible for the rising prevalence of diabetes, new and improved therapies to address the cardiovascular consequences of diabetes are direly needed.”
In a prepared statement, co-author Emmanuelle Vidal-Petiot, MD, PhD, of Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in Paris, said this study highlights how crucial it is for people to prioritize their own health.
“The importance of healthy eating and living cannot be overemphasized,” she said. “Everyone can lower their chances of developing diabetes with weight control and exercise, and early detection is needed so that blood sugar can be controlled. Those with heart disease and diabetes also need an active lifestyle and a good diet to protect their health. Avoiding smoking is crucial, as is controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”
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Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.