This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Diabetes duration may predict CVD in Alström syndrome
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Duration of diabetes appears to be predictive of aortic pulse wave velocity, which is subsequently associated with cardiovascular disease, in patients with Alström syndrome, according to recent findings.
In the cross-sectional analysis, Richard B. Paisey, MD, FRCP, of Torbay Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, and colleagues evaluated 31 patients with Alström syndrome who attended United Kingdom NHS specialty clinics. Eleven of the participants were women, and patient age ranged from 11 to 44 years at baseline.
The researchers evaluated participants with various biochemical tests, blood pressure and measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). Some participants also underwent echocardiography (n = 27) and cardiac MRI (n = 17).
The researchers sought to determine correlations between the patients’ aortic PWV and the following variables: age, sex, BMI, duration of diabetes, HbA1c measurement, log serum creatinine, mean systematic arterial BP, serum lipid profile and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The potential relationships between the variables and PWV were also correlated with the impact of reduced LVEF. Patients were followed for vascular events for 5 years.
The researchers found a positive correlation between aortic PWV and duration of diabetes (P = .001) while LVEF was negatively associated (P = .036). Clinically significant heart disease occurred in five of the 12 participants older than 25 years, and all of these patients had type 2 diabetes for a long duration. Linear regression in the general linear model revealed that only aortic PWV had an independent correlation with CVD (P = .0247).
According to the researchers, these findings offer hope for preventing CVD in patients with Alström syndrome.
“As the onset of diabetes can be delayed in Alström syndrome, by lifestyle modification, there is a clear indication that every Alström family should be afforded the most appropriate access to nutritional advice and empowerment to exercise despite the dual sensory loss,” the researchers wrote. – by Jennifer Byrne
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts