At a major conference held in Hamburg, Germany, researchers shared new insights about the risks of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
This information was revealed during the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The findings highlight specific risk factors that make individuals with T2D more prone to experiencing SCA.
SCA is a severe and often deadly condition that occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively.
It’s responsible for up to 50% of deaths related to heart problems and 20% of all deaths in wealthier countries. People with type 2 diabetes have a notably higher risk of SCA compared to the general population.
A team of researchers led by Peter Harms at Amsterdam UMC wanted to understand which characteristics in T2D patients are linked to this increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. They conducted a case-control study involving 3,919 people with T2D.
Of these, 689 individuals had experienced SCA, while the remaining 3,230 served as the control group for comparison. Each case was carefully matched with up to five control individuals based on age, gender, and general practice records.
The team studied patient records from five years before each SCA case to find patterns and risk factors. They discovered several key factors that appeared to be linked to an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Among them were:
- A history of abnormal heart rhythms (which increased risk by 68%).
- Unknown smoking status (linked to a 40% higher risk).
- Insulin use (associated with a 138% increased risk).
- The use of prokinetic medications that extend the heart’s QT interval (which raised risk by 66%).
The study further broke down the risks based on whether a person had a history of heart disease. For those who did have such a history, moderate or severe levels of protein in the urine, known as albuminuria, and heart failure were all linked to a higher risk of SCA.
However, in patients without a history of heart disease, different factors came into play. These included:
- Low fasting blood sugar levels.
- Extremely high blood pressure.
- Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.
- High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
- The use of certain antibiotics, antipsychotics, and prokinetics that affect the heart’s rhythm.
Peter Harms noted that many general practitioners (GPs) are already aware of common heart-related risk factors, like high blood pressure. But the link between low fasting blood sugar and specific medications might be less well-known.
He emphasized that doctors need to be cautious when prescribing medications, as some commonly used antibiotics, antipsychotics, and prokinetics can affect heart health. Additionally, tight blood sugar control should be managed carefully to avoid increasing the risk of SCA.
The findings suggest that GPs should reconsider some of their treatment strategies when dealing with T2D patients. Understanding these risk factors can help them make better decisions about blood sugar control and medication prescriptions.
Being more aware of the risks linked to certain drugs and low blood sugar levels could lead to improved care for patients at higher risk of SCA.
This study provides a clearer picture of what might increase the chance of sudden cardiac arrest in people with type 2 diabetes. By identifying these factors, researchers hope doctors can take steps to reduce these risks.
This could involve carefully balancing blood sugar levels, avoiding overly aggressive medication strategies, and regularly monitoring heart health in their patients.
Ultimately, this research highlights the importance of tailored care for T2D patients, taking into account both well-known heart risk factors and those that are less recognized. With greater awareness, doctors can help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in this vulnerable group of patients.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and these vegetables could protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about bone drug that could lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing eating more eggs linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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