Publication:

Prevalence of diabetes in patients with myocardial infarction: a study in a tertiary care centre

Background Diabetics experience a greater mortality during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) and a higher morbidity in the postinfarction period. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of diabetes as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.

Methods Detailed demographic details such as age, gender, weight, BMI, blood pressure, smoking and alcohol details, previous clinical and medical history were noted for all the patients. Blood was collected from the patients for random blood glucose levels and HbA1c levels. On the 2nd and the 5th days of admission, fasting blood glucose levels were measured.

Results 63.5% patients were males and only 36.5% of them were females with the average age being around 66 years. Most of the patients who were admitted to the hospital with MI were obese or overweight with elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Out of the 104 patients, 59 (56.7%) had no diabetics, 29 (27.9%) were known diabetics. 11 (10.6%) of them were identified as diabetic during the hospitalization.

Conclusions The chronic and acute hyperglycaemia associated to acute coronary syndromes, mainly in acute myocardial infarction is an independent and determinant factor in the outcome for patients with and without diabetes mellitus.