The association between glycated hemoglobin levels and long-term prognosis in patients with diabetes and triple-vessel coronary disease across different age groups: A cohort study

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2024 Jul:213:111751. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111751. Epub 2024 Jun 19.

Abstract

Aim: Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and adverse prognostic events in patients with diabetes and triple-vessel coronary disease (TVD).

Methods: This study ultimately included 2051 patients with TVD and diabetes. Patients were categorized into five groups based on their HbA1c levels: < 6.0 %, 6.0-6.4 %, 6.5-6.9 %, 7.0-7.9 %, and ≥ 8.0 %. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, and the secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

Results: The median follow-up time was 5.88 years. During this period, a total of 323 (15.7 %) all-cause deaths and 537 (26.2 %) MACCEs were recorded. The relationship between HbA1c and the risk of endpoint events showed a J-shaped pattern, with the lowest risk observed between 6.0 % and 6.4 %. Further analysis revealed a significant interaction between HbA1c and age. In the subgroup with age < 70 years, as HbA1c increased, the risk of endpoint events gradually rose. While in the subgroup with age ≥70 years, there was an L-shaped relationship between HbA1c and endpoint events, with the highest risk observed in patients with HbA1c < 6.0 %.

Conclusion: Our study revealed variations in the relationship between HbA1c levels and endpoint events among patients with TVD and diabetes of different ages. In younger patients, elevated HbA1c levels were associated with a higher risk of death and MACCE, while in older patients, excessively low HbA1c levels (HbA1c < 6 %) were linked to a higher risk of death and MACCE.

Keywords: Diabetes; Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); Glycemic control; Triple-vessel coronary disease.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / mortality
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glycated Hemoglobin* / analysis
  • Glycated Hemoglobin* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human