The Protective Effects of Diabetes Mellitus on Post-EVAR AAA Growth and Reinterventions

Background This study aims to investigate the effect of diabetes on post-endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods A total of 1,479 consecutive patients who underwent AAA EVAR were reviewed. The cohorts were divided based on their diabetes status and compared. Preoperative demographic and comorbidity data were analyzed using the t -test and chi-squared test, whereas post-EVAR outcomes were analyzed using Probit multivariate model, followed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression. Results Of our 1,479 patients, 993 met inclusion criteria. One hundred eighty-three were diabetics (18.4%) compared with 810 nondiabetics (81.6%). Coronary artery disease (CAD; diabetics: 70.49%, nondiabetics: 60.76%, P  = 0.014) and hypertension (HTN; diabetics: 90.16%, nondiabetics: 79.46%, P  = 0.0008) were the only comorbidities analyzed, including follow-up length, which had any significant differences between the diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Probit multivariate analysis using a combined cohort follow-up mean of 51 months showed a significant decrease in aneurysm sac enlargement in diabetic patients (diabetics: 13.11%, nondiabetics: 19.43%, model estimate: 0.3058; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0486–0.5629, Pr > ChiSq = 0.0198) and trended toward significantly fewer reinterventions (diabetics: 23.50%, nondiabetics: 28.41%, model estimate: 0.1990; 95% CI: −0.0262 to 0.4243, Pr > ChiSq = 0.0833). In the Cox regressions, diabetes had a significant protective factor on reinterventions (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.697, Pr > ChiSq = 0.0151), and was trending toward significance for aneurysm sac enlargement (HR: 0.750, Pr > ChiSq = 0.1961). There was no significant difference across diabetic status in any other outcomes, including mortality and endoleak occurrence. Conclusions Although a higher proportion of diabetic patients present with HTN and CAD, they have decreased long-term rates of aneurysm sac enlargement after EVAR. As a result, this cohort trends toward a lower need for reintervention after EVAR.