Is There any Correlation Between Pulmonary and Coronary Involvement in Diabetic Patients?

Diabetes is a major global health issue, affecting over 8.5% of adults worldwide and significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the association between diabetes-related macrovascular complications, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), and pulmonary function remains unclear.

The present study was designed to investigate the association between obstructive and restrictive lung patterns and the severity of coronary artery involvement.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Qom, Iran, between April 2019 and August 2021. A total of 211 diabetic patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were selected. They were divided into two groups: Sixty-nine patients in group 1 (non-significant CAD) and 142 patients in group 2 (significant CAD). Spirometry was performed to assess forced expiratory volume (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV/FVC ratio, with values adjusted for age and sex in the two groups.

Among the 211 participants, 142 (67.3%) exhibited significant coronary artery involvement. Comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in spirometric parameters [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), FVC, FEV₁/FVC ratio] between the groups. Notably, advancing age demonstrated a significant negative correlation with both FEF50% (β = -0.32, P < 0.01) and FVC values (β = -0.28, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis identified inverse relationships between age and peak expiratory flow (PEF; β = -0.41, P < 0.001), HbA1C levels and PEF (β = -0.23, P < 0.05). Additionally, sex emerged as a significant modifier of %FEV₁/FVC (β = 0.19, P < 0.05), with female participants showing lower ratios.

This study failed to find an association between spirometry findings and coronary artery involvement. However, a significant relationship between small airway involvement and glycemic control was observed.