Severity of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Does the timing matter?

The aim of our study was to compare the angiographic changes in 53 nondiabetic patients, 54 type 2 diabetic patients of less than 5 years of duration, 41 patients with 5-10 years of diabetes, and 27 with more than 10 years of diabetic duration.

In this cross-sectional study, 175 patients, who underwent coronary angiogram for the evaluation of the coronary artery disease (CAD), were recruited. Based on the angiographic findings, syntax score, vessel score, and coronary collaterals grading were analyzed. The biochemical analysis was done by using the auto analyzer.

A significant increase in the mean syntax score (p=0.019), vessel score (p=0.007), and coronary collateral grade (p=0.008) was observed in the patients with 5-10 years of diabetes when compared to those with less than 5 years of diabetic duration. There was no significant difference in the mean syntax score (p=0.979), vessel score (p=0.299), and collateral grade (p=0.842) between the patients with 5-10 years and more than 10 years of diabetes. The difference in the mean syntax score (p=0.791), vessel score (p=0.098), and collateral grade (p=0.661) between the nondiabetic and the patients with less than 5 years of diabetes was not significant.

A significant structural change in the coronary arteries was found among the patients with 5-10 years of diabetes.