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Inflammatory activity increases with haemoglobin A1c in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Carl Gunnar Gustavsson1, Carl-David Agardh

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. cg@gustavsson.se

Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal : SCJ
|March 18, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Inflammation markers correlate with HbA1c in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. This association is stronger in diabetic patients and those with elevated HbA1c, indicating increased inflammatory activity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with heightened inflammatory processes.
  • Diabetes mellitus and elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
  • The interplay between inflammation, diabetes, and ACS requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and HbA1c levels in patients diagnosed with ACS.
  • To compare inflammatory profiles in ACS patients with and without diabetes.
  • To determine the independent association of inflammation with HbA1c in ACS patients.

Main Methods:

  • A single-centre cross-sectional study included 688 ACS patients and 341 stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) patients.
  • Inflammatory markers measured included high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), albumin, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and leukocyte count.
  • Multivariate analyses were performed to assess independent associations.

Main Results:

  • ACS patients exhibited higher hsCRP, fibrinogen, and ESR, and lower albumin compared to SCAD patients.
  • In ACS patients, elevated ESR, lower albumin, and borderline higher hsCRP were observed in those with diabetes.
  • All measured inflammatory markers were significantly associated with HbA1c in all ACS patients and in non-diabetic ACS patients with normal HbA1c.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with ACS demonstrate increased inflammatory activity.
  • Inflammatory activity escalates with rising HbA1c levels, even in non-diabetic individuals.
  • The presence of diabetes further exacerbates inflammation in ACS patients.
Abstract

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