scholarly journals Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and glycemic variability in the elderly: a fatal triad?

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Monami ◽  
Sara Aleffi

<p>Diabetes mellitus is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; the incidence of chronic complications of diabetes appears to be closely related to the degree of hyperglycaemia. However, results of clinical trials showed that intensive treatment of hyperglycaemia prevents microvascular complications, but has little or no effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events. Different hypoglycaemic drugs show different effects on cardiovascular risk. However, those trials have shown a neutral effect on cardiovascular mortality. This paradoxical result could be explained with the frequent use, in the past, of glucose-lowering agents capable of increasing the risk of hypoglicemia, glycemic variability and weight gain. In conclusion, an adequate glycemic control, in particular in elderly patients, should be achieved, whenever possible, using agents not inducing hypogycemia, glucose fluctuations, and weight gain. In fact, hypoglycaemia and glucose variability should be considered as independent cardiovascular risk factors to a similar extent to hyperglycemia. In this article, the author will review literature supporting the hypothesis that hyperglycemia, hypoglycaemia and glycemic variability are a fatal triad capable of increasing morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. </p><p><strong>Riassunto</strong></p><p>Il diabete mellito è una delle più importanti cause di morbilità e mortalità cardiovascolare, ed è stata dimostrata una stretta correlazione tra compenso glicometabolico ed incidenza di complicanze croniche del diabete mellito. Tuttavia, negli studi di intervento, il controllo accurato dell’iperglicemia sembra poter prevenire le complicanze microvascolari, ma ha effetti soltanto marginali sull’incidenza di eventi cardiovascolari secondari a malattia macrovascolare. Inoltre, i grandi trial di intervento hanno mostrato come la riduzione degli eventi cardiovascolari non si accompagni ad una riduzione della mortalità cardiovascolare. Tale paradosso potrebbe essere spiegato dal fatto che spesso, in passato, per ottenere un miglioramento glicometabolico si sono utilizzati farmaci ipoglicemizzanti in grado di aumentare il rischio ipoglicemico, la variabilità glicemica ed il peso corporeo. In conclusione, il miglioramento del compenso glicemico, specie nel paziente anziano, dovrebbe essere ottenuto, quando possibile, con farmaci a basso rischio ipoglicemico e non inducenti aumenti di peso, per evitare gli effetti negativi di ipoglicemie e eccessive fluttuazioni della glicemia che di per sé costituiscono dei fattori di rischio cardiovascolari al pari dell’iperglicemia. In questo articolo, si esplorerà l’ipotesi che iperglicemia, ipoglicemia e variabilità glicemica costituiscano una triade fatale in grado di aumentare morbilità e mortalità nei pazienti affetti da diabete mellito.</p>

Folia Medica ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Caprnda ◽  
Dasa Mesarosova ◽  
Pablo Fabuel Ortega ◽  
Boris Krahulec ◽  
Emmanuel Egom ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:Presence of macro- and microvascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is not only related to chronic hyperglycemia represented by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) but also to acute glycemic fluctuations (glycemic variability, GV). The association between GV and DM complications is not completely clear. Aim of our study was to evaluate GV by MAGE index in patients with type 2 DM and to verify association of MAGE index with presence of macro- and microvascular DM complications.Methods:99 patients with type 2 DM were included in the study. Every patient had done big glycemic profile, from which MAGE index was calculated. Anthropometric measurements, evaluation of HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and assessment for macrovascular (coronary artery disease – CAD; peripheral artery disease – PAD; cerebral stroke – CS) and microvascular (diabetic retinopathy – DR; nephropathy – DN; peripheral neuropathy – DPPN) DM complications were done.Results:Average MAGE index value was 5.15 ± 2.88 mmol/l. We found no significant differences in MAGE index values in subgroups according to presence of neither CAD, CS, PAD nor DR, DN, DPPN. MAGE index value significantly positively correlated with FPG (p < 0.01) and HbA1c (p < 0.001) and negatively with weight (p < 0.05).Conclusion:In our study we failed to show association of MAGE index with presence of macrovascular and microvascular complications in patients with type 2 DM. However, this negative result does not necessarily disprove importance of glycemic variability in pathogenesis of diabetic complications.


QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Ibrahim ◽  
O M M Kamal ◽  
M S Hassan ◽  
M M M Khalifa

Abstract Introduction The most common cause of mortality among chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients is cardiovascular disease. Hypervolemia is an important risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular mortality in HD patients that include chronic volume overload and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG).IDWG affects cardiovascular morbidity and mortality Daily fluctuations in extracellular fluid volume might promote cardiac remodeling resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and cardiac fibrosis. Aim of the study to assess interdialytic weight gain and (its relation to morbidity and mortality) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Patient and methods 100 ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis included in study in Ain Shams University hospitals in march 2016 and followed up after one year in march 2017. Type of study cohort study Patients were divided into two groups according to interdialytic weight gain (IDWG): Group I (high IDWG) 50 patients with Absolute weight gain 4kg or more. Or relative IDWG more than 3.5% of total body weight. Group II (low IDWG) 50 patients with absolute weight gain less than 3kg Or relative IDWG less than 3.5% of total body weight. Echocardiography (TTE) for all patients at the start of the study and followed up after one year for detecting outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for heart failure/volume overload, hospitalization for myocardial infarction, stroke. Results we found that patient with high (IDWG) group II has significantly higher increase in left ventricular mass index (LVMI),inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and significantly higher decrease in ejection fraction more than low IDWG group I. Conclusions Patients with high IDWG group II at higher risk of increase LVMI, decrease ejection fraction, increase in interventricular septum (IVS), increase in inferior vena cava diameter more than patients of low IDWG group I and has more cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M H Lassen ◽  
T B S Biering-Soerensen ◽  
P G J Joergensen ◽  
H U A Andersen ◽  
P R Rossing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus. It is of great importance to identify early signs of cardiac pathology such as elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. The ratio of transmitral early filling velocity to early diastolic strain rate (E/e'sr) has in recent studies proved to be an accurate measure of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. Furthermore, E/e'sr has demonstrated strong prognostic value across different study populations. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of E/e'sr in a large cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in relation to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods In this prospective study, 1082 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (mean age 50±15 years, 53% male, mean duration of diabetes 26 years) underwent a comprehensive echocardiographic examination including both conventional measurements and two-dimensional speckle tracking in which E/e'sr along with other echocardiographic measurements were obtained. The primary outcome was defined as a major cardiac event (heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death). Results During follow-up (median: 6.2 years, IQR: 5.7, 6.9) 144 (13.3%) met the composite outcome. E/e'sr was significantly associated with the composite outcome (E/e'sr: HR 1.36 95% CI [1.25–1.47], p<0.001, per 0.10m increase) (figure). E/e'sr remained an independent predictor after multivariable adjustment for age, gender, duration of diabetes, BMI, HbA1c, smoking status, level of physical activity, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol level, eGFR, albuminuria, LV ejection fraction, LV dimensions and left atrial volume index (E/e'sr: HR 1.16 95% CI [1.04–1.28], p=0.006, per 0.10m increase). Interestingly, E/e'sr was especially good as a prognosticator in female patients (p for interaction = 0.008) in a univariable model: (female: HR 1.53 95% CI [1.37–1.71], p<0.001, per 0.10m increase) (male: HR 1.23 95% CI [1.10–1.38], p<0.001, per 0.10m increase). In the same multivariable model as before, E/e'sr remained an independent predictor of the outcome in female patients whereas the same was not true for male patients (female: HR 1.39 95% CI [1.18–1.66], p<0.001, per 0.10m increase) vs (male: HR 1.05 95% CI [0.92–1.21], p=0.46, per 0.10m increase). Conclusion In patients with type 1 diabetes, E/e'sr provides independent prognostic information regarding cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, E/e'sr seems to have stronger prognostic value in female patients with type 1 diabetes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 112 (7) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmine Savoia ◽  
Ernesto L. Schiffrin

More than 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus develop hypertension, and approx. 20% of patients with hypertension develop diabetes. This combination of cardiovascular risk factors will account for a large proportion of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Lowering elevated blood pressure in diabetic hypertensive individuals decreases cardiovascular events. In patients with hypertension and diabetes, the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease is multifactorial, but recent evidence points toward the presence of an important component dependent on a low-grade inflammatory process. Angiotensin II may be to a large degree responsible for triggering vascular inflammation by inducing oxidative stress, resulting in up-regulation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors such as NF-κB (nuclear factor κB). These, in turn, regulate the generation of inflammatory mediators that lead to endothelial dysfunction and vascular injury. Inflammatory markers (e.g. C-reactive protein, chemokines and adhesion molecules) are increased in patients with hypertension and metabolic disorders, and predict the development of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modification and pharmacological approaches (such as drugs that target the renin–angiotensin system) may reduce blood pressure and inflammation in patients with hypertension and metabolic disorders, which will reduce cardiovascular risk, development of diabetes and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1184-1191
Author(s):  
Richard E. Pratley ◽  
Julio Rosenstock ◽  
Simon R. Heller ◽  
Alan Sinclair ◽  
Robert J. Heine ◽  
...  

Background: Few studies have evaluated continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) not using injectable therapy. CGM is useful for investigating hypoglycemia and glycemic variability, which is associated with complications in T2DM. Methods: A CGM substudy of Individualized treatMent aPproach for oldER patIents in a randomized trial in type 2 diabetes Mellitus (IMPERIUM)) was conducted. Patients were vulnerable (moderately ill and/or frail) older (≥65 years) individuals with suboptimally controlled T2DM. Strategy A comprised glucose-dependent therapies (n = 26) with a nonsulfonylurea oral antihyperglycemic medication (OAM) and a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist as the first injectable. Strategy B comprised non-glucose-dependent therapies (n = 21) with sulfonylurea as the preferred OAM and insulin glargine as the first injectable. Primary endpoints were duration and percentage of time spent with blood glucose (BG) ≤70 mg/dL over 24 hours at week 24. Results: Duration and percentage of time spent with hypoglycemia at ≤70 mg/dL were similar for Strategy A and Strategy B; glycemic control improved similarly in both arms (LSM change in HbA1c at week 24; A = −1.2%, B = −1.4%). Duration and percentage time spent with euglycemia and hyperglycemia were also similar in both arms. However, Strategy A was associated with lower within-day (21.1 ± 1.2 vs 25.1 ± 1.4, P = .046) and between-day (5.4 ± 1.0 vs 9.1 ± 1.3, P = .038) BG variability (coefficient of variance [LSM ± SE]) at week 24. Conclusions: This CGM substudy in older patients with T2DM showed lower within- and between-day BG variability with glucose-dependent therapies but similar HbA1c reductions and hypoglycemia duration with glucose-independent strategies.


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