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Angioplasty Linked to Higher Death Risk in Diabetics
posted 05/19/04
New research shows that diabetic patients who undergo
angioplasty, a minimally invasive method of opening blocked heart vessels, are
more likely to die in the years following treatment than their peers without
diabetes.
Dr. David L. Brown and colleagues from Beth Israel Medical
Center, New York, write "Diabetic patients are known to have reduced survival
following...angioplasty compared with nondiabetic patients,". "However, it is
unknown whether this survival disadvantage has persisted" into the current era
in which new drugs and devices are available that make angioplasty more
effective and safe.
The researchers compared survival between diabetic and nondiabetic patients who
underwent angioplasty for heart disease. More than 4000 patients were included
in the study.
During 3 years of follow-up, 13 percent of diabetic patients died compared with
just 8 percent of nondiabetic patients. After accounting for other related
factors, the authors calculate that diabetics were 46 percent more likely to die
than were nondiabetics.
Diabetics may fare worse because they have more severe blood vessel plaques than
nondiabetics. "These findings suggest that angioplasty...may not be the best
form of treatment for diabetics," he said. "Diabetics may require more intensive
medical therapy or even bypass surgery to achieve the best long-term outcomes."
Source: Diabetes In Control.com: Diabetes Care, May 2004.
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