[Survival of diabetic patients with known coronary artery disease]

The risk of cardiovascular diseases is two to four times higher in diabetic patients.

To study the severity of coronary disease and survival of patients with diabetes mellitus, compared to matched controls without diabetes.

A retrospective review of all coronary angiographies performed at a private hospital. All diabetic patients with coronary lesions over 50% were considered as the index group. Non diabetic patients with coronary artery lesions over 50% and with similar demographic features and risk factors to the diabetic patients group, were studied as controls. A follow up was done reviewing clinical records and by telephone interviews. Mortality was obtained reviewing death certificates.

Seventy seven diabetic patients (48 male, mean age 61+/-10 years and 129 non diabetic subjets (87 males, mean age 61+/-10 years) were studied. Mean follow up in diabetic and non diabetic patients was 1,270 and 1,340 days respectively. Diabetic patients had a higher frequency of multiple vessel disease than their non diabetic counterparts (69 and 52% respectively, p<0.003). Ejection fraction was 61 and 65% in diabetics and non diabetics. General mortality was 15.5 and 2.3% in diabetics and non diabetic respectively (p<0.01). Cardiovascular mortality was 9.1 and 0.8% in diabetics and non diabetics respectively (p 0.002).

Diabetic patients with coronary artery disease have a lower survival and more extensive coronary artery lesions than non diabetic patients with similar age, sex and overall coronary risk.