Lack of exercise and obesity are common risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, which leads researchers to highlight the urgent need for improvements in raising global awareness. Previous research has shown that countries that are most affected by diabetes are also at the epicenter of the obesity epidemic. Experts believe this can be due in part to urbanization and changes in physical activity and nutrition.
The study included an analysis of the CLARIFY registry, which included 32,694 patients with chronic coronary syndromes. They were from 45 countries in Europe, Asia, American, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. All patients enrolled in 2009 and 2010 and were followed for five years.
It was found that all adverse events occurred more frequently in heart patients with diabetes. Among those patients with stable coronary heart disease, those with diabetes had a 38% higher rate of death over the five years. These patients also had a 28% higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from a cardiovascular event. Heart patients with diabetes had worse outcomes than those without diabetes, regardless of geographic region and ethnicity.
Diabetes Prevalence in the General Population
In the general population, the diabetes prevalence is around 9%. This shows that patients with coronary heart disease are much more at risk for developing diabetes than the general population.
Study author Dr. Vidal-Petiot said, “Diabetes was linked with worse outcomes even in areas with the lowest prevalence. In Europe, for instance, diabetes was linked with a 29% greater risk of the combined outcome of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death. This indicates that the management of these very high-risk patients with heart disease and diabetes should be improved. Each country needs to identify these patients and provide tailored educational and prevention programs.”
This study helps to outline the importance of healthy living to help control illness and disease. Those with cardiovascular disease or other heart problems can help to lower their chances of developing diabetes with weight control and exercise. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels is also important and can help to reduce the risk.
Early detection is needed in those with coronary heart disease so that blood sugar levels can be controlled. By eating healthy and staying active, heart patients can greatly reduce their risk of developing a secondary disease.