Poor Prognosis in Diabetes and Silent Ischemia

People with diabetes fare poorly following a diagnosis of silent ischemia, new research finds.

A group of investigators at Timone University Hospital Centre in Marseille, France, conducted a screening program to identify people with diabetes who have silent ischemia. In all, 203 asymptomatic patients were screened. Researchers found 171 participants had a negative screening, while 32 participants had silent ischemia, and 21 of those had silent ischemia and stenosis of coronary arteries.

Participants were followed for 6 years, during which all deaths and nonfatal major cardiac events—cardiac death, heart attack, ventricular rhythm disorders, heart failure, and unstable angina—were recorded.

Participants with silent ischemia and coronary stenosis had a higher risk of a nonfatal major cardiac event and a higher mortality rate than participants with a negative screening. Those with silent ischemia had a higher rate of nonfatal cardiac event than those with a negative screening, but no greater risk of mortality. Analysis revealed associations between cardiac events and the participants' baseline age, body mass index, and degree of coronary stenosis.