Background: Clinical lipid measurements do not show the full complexity of the altered lipid metabolism associated with diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. Lipidomics enables the assessment of hundreds of lipid species as potential markers for disease risk. Methods: Plasma lipid species (310) were measured by a targeted lipidomic analysis with liquid chromatography electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry on a case-cohort (n=3779) subset from the ADVANCE trial (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron-MR Controlled Evaluation). The case-cohort was 61% male with a mean age of 67 years. All participants had type 2 diabetes mellitus with ≥1 additional cardiovascular risk factors, and 35% had a history of macrovascular disease. Weighted Cox regression was used to identify lipid species associated with future cardiovascular events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death) and cardiovascular death during a 5-year follow-up period. Multivariable models combining traditional risk factors with lipid species were optimized with the Akaike information criteria. C statistics and NRIs were calculated within a 5-fold cross-validation framework. Results: Sphingolipids, phospholipids (including lyso- and ether- species), cholesteryl esters, and glycerolipids were associated with future cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death. The addition of 7 lipid species to a base model (14 traditional risk factors and medications) to predict cardiovascular events increased the C statistic from 0.680 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.678–0.682) to 0.700 (95% CI, 0.698–0.702; P <0.0001) with a corresponding continuous NRI of 0.227 (95% CI, 0.219–0.235). The prediction of cardiovascular death was improved with the incorporation of 4 lipid species into the base model, showing an increase in the C statistic from 0.740 (95% CI, 0.738–0.742) to 0.760 (95% CI, 0.757–0.762; P <0.0001) and a continuous net reclassification index of 0.328 (95% CI, 0.317–0.339). The results were validated in a subcohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=511) from the LIPID trial (Long-Term Intervention With Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease). Conclusions: The improvement in the prediction of cardiovascular events, above traditional risk factors, demonstrates the potential of plasma lipid species as biomarkers for cardiovascular risk stratification in diabetes mellitus. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00145925.
In Australia and New Zealand the prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has increased. In Australia alone the financial burden is estimated to reach $500 million by 2007 (data from the National Chronic Kidney Disease Strategy Workshop Report 2005). The leading cause of ESRD in Australia and New Zealand, and throughout the developed world, is type 2 diabetes, having overtaken glomerulonephritis in 2004.(1) To date, management of patients with diabetes and ESRD has been, according to guidelines, given for patients without ESRD. This commentary raises three important emerging concerns in the clinical care of these patients: (i) the lack of reliable tools to measure glycaemic control; (ii) limitations of the current data set supporting a relationship between outcome and glycaemic control in ESRD; and (iii) lack of studies examining the effect of intensive diabetes care and glucose control in patients with ESRD.
The Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial reported that intensive glucose control prevents end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes, but uncertainty about the balance between risks and benefits exists. Here, we examine the long-term effects of intensive glucose control on risk of ESKD and other outcomes.Survivors, previously randomized to intensive or standard glucose control, were invited to participate in post-trial follow-up. ESKD, defined as the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation, or death due to kidney disease, was documented overall and by baseline CKD stage, along with hypoglycemic episodes, major cardiovascular events, and death from other causes.A total of 8,494 ADVANCE participants were followed for a median of 5.4 additional years. In-trial HbA1c differences disappeared by the first post-trial visit. The in-trial reductions in the risk of ESKD (7 vs. 20 events, hazard ratio [HR] 0.35, P = 0.02) persisted after 9.9 years of overall follow-up (29 vs. 53 events, HR 0.54, P < 0.01). These effects were greater in earlier-stage CKD (P = 0.04) and at lower baseline systolic blood pressure levels (P = 0.01). The effects of glucose lowering on the risks of death, cardiovascular death, or major cardiovascular events did not differ by levels of kidney function (P > 0.26).Intensive glucose control was associated with a long-term reduction in ESKD, without evidence of any increased risk of cardiovascular events or death. These benefits were greater with preserved kidney function and with well-controlled blood pressure.
Tirzepatide, a once weekly GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduces blood glucose and body weight in people with type 2 diabetes. The cardiovascular (CV) safety and efficacy of tirzepatide have not been definitively assessed in a cardiovascular outcomes trial. Tirzepatide is being studied in a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled CV outcomes trial. People with type 2 diabetes aged ≥40 years, with established atherosclerotic CV disease, HbA1c ≥7% to ≤10.5%, and body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were randomized 1:1 to once weekly subcutaneous injection of either tirzepatide up to 15 mg or dulaglutide 1.5 mg. The primary outcome is time to first occurrence of any major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), defined as CV death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. The trial is event-driven and planned to continue until ≥1,615 participants experience an adjudication-confirmed component of MACE. The primary analysis is non-inferiority for time to first MACE of tirzepatide versus dulaglutide by demonstrating an upper confidence limit <1.05, which will also confirm superiority versus a putative placebo, and also to determine whether tirzepatide produces a greater CV benefit than dulaglutide (superiority analysis). Over 2 years, 13,299 people at 640 sites in 30 countries across all world regions were randomized. The mean age of randomized participants at baseline was 64.1 years, diabetes duration 14.7 years, HbA1c 8.4%, and BMI 32.6 kg/m2. Overall, 65.0% had coronary disease, of whom 47.3% reported prior myocardial infarction and 57.4% had prior coronary revascularization. 19.1% of participants had prior stroke and 25.3% had peripheral artery disease. The trial is fully recruited and ongoing. SURPASS-CVOT will provide definitive evidence as to the CV safety and efficacy of tirzepatide as compared with dulaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist with established CV benefit.
This study aimed to examine the association between performance of self-care activities and patient or disease factors as well as patient activation levels in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Australia.A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with diabetes and CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2 ) who were recruited from renal and diabetes clinics of four tertiary hospitals in Australia. Demographic and clinical data were collected, as well as responses to the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) scale. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between activation and performance of self-care activities.A total of 317 patients (70% men) with a mean age of 66.9 (SD=11.0) years participated. The mean (SD) PAM and composite SDSCA scores were 57.6 (15.5) % (range 0-100) and 37.3 (11.2) (range 0-70), respectively. Younger age, being male, advanced stages of CKD and shorter duration of diabetes were associated with lower scores in one or more self-care components. Patient activation was positively associated with the composite SDSCA score, and in particular the domains of general diet and blood sugar checking (P<.05), but not specific diet, exercising and foot checking.In people with diabetes and CKD, a high level of patient activation was positively associated with a higher overall level of self-care. Our results identify subgroups of people who may benefit from tailored interventions to further improve their health outcomes. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm present findings.
Abstract BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder with metabolic complications, yet the prevalence of hypertension is unclear. We aim to assess hypertension prevalence and the impact of obesity in women reporting PCOS compared to those not reporting PCOS. METHODS This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from a large longitudinal study, the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). Women from the general community were randomly selected from the national health insurance database. Standardized data collection occurred at 6 survey time points. Data from Survey 4 in 2006 (n = 8,612, age: 28–33 years) were examined for this study. The main outcome measures studied were self-reported PCOS and hypertension. RESULTS Reported PCOS prevalence was 5.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.3%–6.4%). Women with PCOS had higher body mass index (BMI). Hypertension prevalence was 5.5% (95% CI: 3.3–7.7) in women reporting PCOS and 2.0% (95% CI: 1.6–2.3) in women not reporting PCOS (P < 0.001). Hypertension was associated with BMI (odds ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05–1.10, P < 0.001) with a trend towards an association with PCOS (P = 0.09). On subgroup analysis, hypertension was not associated with BMI in women reporting PCOS but was associated in those not reporting PCOS. CONCLUSIONS In this large community-based cohort, we note increased prevalence of hypertension and higher BMI in young women reporting PCOS. BMI association with hypertension appeared clear in women not reporting PCOS. Yet in women with PCOS, hypertension appeared to not be associated with BMI, akin to observations on diabetes risk in PCOS, suggesting that metabolic abnormalities in PCOS may be independent of BMI.
Hypoglycemia caused by treatment with a sulfonylurea, a glinide, or insulin coupled with compromised defenses against the resulting falling plasma glucose concentrations is a problem for many people with diabetes. It is often recurrent, causes significant morbidity and occasional mortality, limits maintenance of euglycemia, and impairs physiological and behavioral defenses against subsequent hypoglycemia. Minimizing hypoglycemia includes acknowledging the problem; considering each risk factor; and applying the principles of intensive glycemic therapy, including drug selection and selective application of diabetes treatment technologies. For diabetes health-care providers treating most people with diabetes who are at risk for or are suffering from iatrogenic hypoglycemia, these principles include selecting appropriate individualized glycemic goals and providing structured patient education to reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia. This is typically combined with short-term scrupulous avoidance of hypoglycemia, which often will reverse impaired awareness of hypoglycemia. Clearly, the risk of hypoglycemia is modifiable.