Deborah A Chyun

Abstract

The aims of this prospective, observational study were to compare: (1) symptom presentation of coronary heart disease (CHD) between patients with and without diabetes and (2) symptom predictors of CHD in patients with and without diabetes. We directly observed 528 patients with symptoms suggestive of CHD as they presented to the ED of a 900-bed cardiac referral center in the northeastern United States. There were no significant differences in symptom presentation of Crib between patients with and without diabetes, although patients with diabetes were slightly more likely to present with shortness of breath (P=.056). Patients with diabetes reported their symptoms to be more severe compared with those without diabetes (P=.036). Neck/throat pain and arm/shoulder pain were of borderline significance in predicting CHD in patients with diabetes (P=.059 and P=.052, respectively). Classic chest symptoms and diaphoresis were independent predictors of CHD in patients without diabetes (P=.002 and P=.049, respectively). The perceived severity of symptoms was not predictive of CHD in patients with or without diabetes. Symptoms thought to be diagnostic of CHD are not helpful in patients with diabetes. Future research should focus on identifying more useful predictors of CHD in patients with diabetes.

Abstract

Objectives To examine in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods All patients in an 800-bed teaching hospital who had a discharge diagnosis of myocardial infarction, verified by creatine kinase levels at admission, between 1991 and 1993 made up the study population. All 118 such patients who died during this period made up the case group. Two control subjects (n = 236), survivors of the hospitalisation, matched by sex, age, and length of hospitalization, were selected randomly for each case. Information on the presence of diabetes mellitus, medical history, and data related to myocardial infarction were obtained through retrospective chart review. Results The mean age of all subjects in the study was 76 years. Thirty-three percent of the patients in the case group and 31% of the control subjects had a history of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.64-1.70), indicating that diabetes mellitus was not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.48-2.51) in patients with non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.34-1.86) in insulin-treated patients. Multivariate analysis, with conditional logistic regression, confirmed that known prognostic factors for myocardial infarction, rather than diabetic status, are predictive of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Once the effects of age are accounted for, the risk of in-hospital mortality is not greater in patients with diabetes mellitus than in patients without diabetes; however, diabetes mellitus may be an important factor for long-term survival.

Abstract

PURPOSE the purposes of this paper are to (1) review the literature on educational interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes; (2) determine what kinds of interventions have been studied; (3) identify which interventions have included cardiac risk factor management; (4) determine how effective these interventions have been on metabolic control, diabetes-related outcomes, and cardiovascular-related outcomes; and (5) make recommendations for further research on combined interventions designed to promote optimal diabetes and cardiac risk factor management in adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Using an integrative literature review approach, 64 studies on diabetes education interventions for adults with diabetes published between 1987 and 1998 were reviewed; 44 met these criteria. RESULTS Few studies included cardiac risk factor management, which should be an integral part of diabetes management. Most studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of education on the management of type 2 diabetes but not cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSIONS Identifying strategies that promote effective disease management for improved diabetes control and reduction of cardiac events in adults with diabetes is essential. Further intervention studies focusing on the combined management of diabetes and cardiac risk factors are warranted.