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Objectives: Assess the effect of risk factors changes on risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes selected from the Swedish National Diabetes Register., Methods: Observational study of 13,477 females and males aged 30-75 years, with baseline HbA1c 41-67 mmol/mol, systolic blood pressure 122-154 mmHg and ratio non-HDL:HDL 1.7-4.1, followed for mean 6.5 years until 2012. Four groups were created: a reference group (n = 6757) with increasing final versus baseline HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL cholesterol during the study period, and three groups with decreasing HbA1c (n = 1925), HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (n = 2050) or HbA1c and systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL (n = 2745)., Results: Relative risk reduction for fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease was 35% with decrease in HbA1c only (mean 6 to final 49 mmol/mol), 56% with decrease in HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (mean 12 to final 128 mmHg) and 75% with combined decreases in HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and non-HDL:HDL (mean 0.8 to final 2.1), all p < 0.001 adjusting for clinical characteristics, other risk factors, treatments and previous cardiovascular disease. Similar risk reductions were found for fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality and also in a subgroup of 3038 patients with albuminuria., Conclusion: Considerable risk reductions for cardiovascular disease and mortality were seen with combined long-term risk factor improvement., (© The Author(s) 2016.)

Aims/hypothesis: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more frequent in patients with diabetes than in the general population. However, characteristics contributing to AF risk in diabetes remain speculative., Methods: Observational study of 83,162 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30-79 years, with no baseline AF, 17% had history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 3.3% history of congestive heart failure (CHF), followed up for development of AF during mean 6.8 years from 2005-2007 to 2012. A subgroup of 67,780 patients without history of CVD or CHF was also analysed., Results: Using Cox regression, cardiovascular risk factors associated with risk for AF were updated mean BMI (HR 1.31 per 5 kg/m(2)) or obesity (HR 1.51), updated mean systolic BP (SBP; HR 1.13 per 10 mmHg) or hypertension (HR 1.71), and cumulative microalbuminuria (HR 1.21), p < 0.001 for all analyses. Male sex, increasing age and height were also significant predictors. HRs were 1.76 for a history of CHF and 2.56 for in-study CHF, while 1.32 for history of CVD and 1.38 for in-study CHD (p < 0.001). Among patients without history of CVD or CHF, significant predictors were similarly BMI, SBP, and cumulative microalbuminuria and CHF. The risk of AF differed in the subgroups achieving or not achieving a target BP < 140/85 mmHg. The HRs for AF were (per 10 mmHg increase) 0.88 and 1.24, respectively., Conclusions/interpretation: The modifiable risk factors high BP, high BMI and albuminuria were strongly associated with AF in type 2 diabetes. CVD, advancing age and height were also associated with AF in type 2 diabetes.

Improvement of risk prediction for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is needed. Both ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and biomarkers amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cystatin C improve risk prediction but they have not been evaluated in relation to each other. We analyzed whether NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or cystatin C improved risk prediction beyond traditional ASCVD risk factors combined with 24-hour systolic BP (SBP). Secondary aim was to evaluate whether ABP improved risk prediction when compared with models with the biomarkers. We followed up 907 70-year-old men, free of baseline disease, for incident ASCVD defined as fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal or nonfatal stroke for a median of 10 years. Cox regression was used to estimate the association between variables in the models and incident ASCVD. Biomarkers were added to a model containing both traditional risk factors and ABP and the models were compared on C-statistics and net reclassification improvement. Twenty-four hour SBP improved discrimination for incident ASCVD when compared with office SBP in a traditional risk factor model (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, +2.4%). NT-proBNP further improved reclassification (+18.7%-19.9%; P<0.01) when added to ABP models, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cystatin C did not. Twenty-four hour SBP significantly improved net reclassification when added to a traditional risk factor model that included NT-proBNP. The combination of 24-hour SBP and NT-proBNP improved discrimination and net reclassification for incident ASCVD when compared with office SBP in elderly men. NT-proBNP, but not high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or cystatin C, improved risk prediction and discrimination when added to a model that included ABP., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Objectives: Estimate risks of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with updated mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in an observational study of patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: Thirty-five thousand and forty-one patients treated with antihypertensive drugs, and 18 512 untreated patients, aged 30-75 years, without previous heart failure, followed for 6 years until 2009., Results: In treated patients, nonlinear splines for 6-year risk of fatal/nonfatal CHD, stroke and CVD by BP as a continuous variable showed a progressive increase with higher SBP from 140  mmHg and higher, and with DBP from 80  mmHg, with a J-shaped risk curve at lowest SBP levels, but not obviously at lowest DBP levels. Analysing intervals of SBP with 130-134  mmHg as reference at Cox regression, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for fatal/nonfatal CHD, stroke and CVD with at least 140  mmHg were 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.39], 1.43 (1.18-1.72), 1.26 (1.13-1.41), all P < 0.001. HR with 115-129 and 135-139  mmHg were nonsignificant, whereas increased with 100-114  mmHg, 1.96 (P < 0.001), 1.75 (P = 0.02), 2.08 (P < 0.001), respectively. With DBP 75-79  mmHg as reference, adjusted HR for fatal/nonfatal CHD, stroke and CVD with DBP 80-84  mmHg were 1.42 (1.26-1.59), 1.46 (1.24-1.72), 1.39 (1.26-1.53), all P < 0.001. Corresponding HR with DBP at least 85  mmHg were 1.70 (1.50-1.92), 2.35 (1.99-2.77), 1.87 (1.69-2.07), all P < 0.001. Corresponding HR with DBP 60-69 and 70-74  mmHg were nonsignificant. The picture was similar in 7059 patients with previous CVD and in untreated patients., Conclusion: BP around 130-135/75-79  mmHg showed lower risks of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To estimate risks of fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with SBP in an observational study of patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: Twelve thousand, six hundred and seventy-seven patients aged 30-75 years, treated with antihypertensive drugs, without previous congestive heart failure, followed for 5 years., Results: Risk curves of CHD and stroke increased progressively with higher baseline or updated mean SBP in a Cox model, in all participants, and in two subgroups without (n = 10 304) or with (n = 2373) a history of CVD, with no J-shaped risk curves at low SBP levels. Hazard ratios for CHD and stroke per 10-mmHg increase in updated mean SBP in all participants, adjusting for clinical characteristics and traditional risk factors, were 1.08 (1.04-1.13) and 1.20 (1.13-1.27), P < 0.001. With updated mean SBP of 110-129 mmHg as reference, SBP of at least 140 mmHg showed risk increases of 37% for CHD, 86% for stroke and 44% for CVD (P = 0.001 to <0.001), whereas SBP of 130-139 mmHg showed nonsignificant risk increases for these outcomes. With baseline SBP of 110-129 mmHg, CHD and CVD risks increased with further SBP reduction, hazard ratios were 1.77 and 1.73 (P = 0.002), but decreased considerably for CHD, stroke and CVD with higher baseline SBP., Conclusion: Risks of CHD and stroke increased progressively with higher SBP, with no J-shaped curves, although risk increase was significant only for SBP of at least 140 mmHg, but not comparing 130-139 and 110-129 mmHg. Additionally, baseline SBP of 110-129 mmHg showed increased CHD and CVD risk with further SBP reduction during follow-up, whereas baseline SBP of at least 130 showed benefits.

Aim: To estimate hazard ratio (HR) of first incident fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in female/male type 2 diabetic patients, with tight versus adverse control of HbA1c and blood pressure (BP) at baseline, age 30-70 years, no baseline CVD, followed for mean 5.7 years., Methods: 2593 patients with tight control of HbA1c <7.5% and BP < or = 140/90 mmHg (median 6.5%/130/80 mmHg), and 2160 patients with adverse control 7.5-9.0%/141-190/91-110 mmHg (median 8.1%/155/85 mmHg)., Results: The hazard ratio (HR) for CVD with tight/adverse control was 0.67 (0.55-0.80; p<0.001), adjusting for age, sex, duration, hypoglycaemic treatment, smoking, BMI, lipid-lowering drugs, antihypertensive drugs, microalbuminuria. Adjusted HR for myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, stroke and total mortality were 0.72 (0.56-0.92; p=0.01), 0.69 (0.55-0.86; p<0.001), 0.62 (0.45-0.84; p<0.001), 1.00 (0.72-1.39). The partial population-attributable risk percent for myocardial infarction, stroke and CVD was 23%, 33%, 29% if adverse HbA1c/BP control could be avoided, while 43%, 38%, 39% with overweight and smoking also avoided. Baseline lower BMI and absence of microalbuminuria were associated with tight control., Conclusion: Median difference of HbA1c/BP 1.6%/25/5 mmHg between tight and adverse control considerably reduced the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The findings call for a multi-factorial approach to improve HbA1c, BP, obesity, smoking, and microalbuminuria.

We assessed blood pressure (BP) trends in patients with type 2 diabetes from a national diabetes register using three cross-sectional samples (aged 30-85 years) in 2005, 2007 and 2009, and in patients from 2005 followed individually until 2009. The prevalence of hypertension was 87% among all 180 369 patients in 2009, although lower in subgroups with ages 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 years: 40%, 60% and 77%. In the three cross-sectional surveys, mean BP decreased (141/77-136/76 mmHg), uncontrolled BP≥ 140/90 mmHg decreased (58-46%), and antihypertensive drug treatment (AHT) increased (73-81%). Comparatively in 79 185 patients followed individually for 5 years, mean BP decreased (141/77-137/75 mmHg), uncontrolled BP ≥140/90 mmHg decreased (58-47%) and AHT increased (73-82%). Independent predictors of BP decrease were BMI decrease (stronger) and increase in AHT. AHT occurred among 81% of all patients in 2009. In 57 645 patients on AHT followed individually, mean BP decreased (143/77-138/75 mmHg) and uncontrolled BP ≥140/90 mmHg decreased (63-50%). Among 5164 patients with nephropathy on AHT followed individually, BP <130/80 mmHg increased (12-21%). In conclusion, BP control improved from 2005 to 2009, relative to BMI decrease and AHT increase, although still about half had BP ≥140/90 mmHg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE -- Risk prediction models obtained in samples from the general population do not perform well in type 2 diabetic patients. Recently, 5-year risk estimates were proposed as being more accurate than 10-year risk estimates. This study presents a diabetes-specific equation for estimation of the absolute 5-year risk of first incident fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetic patients with use of A1C and clinical characteristics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -- The study was based on 11,646 female and male patients, aged 18-70 years, from the Swedish National Diabetes Register with 1,482 first incident CVD events based on 58,342 person-years with mean follow-up of 5.64 years. RESULTS -- This risk equation incorporates A1C, as in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine, and several clinical characteristics: onset age of diabetes, diabetes duration, sex, BMI, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive and lipid-reducing drugs. All predictors included were associated with the outcome (P < 0.0001, except for BMI P = 0.0016) with Cox regression analysis. Calibration was excellent when assessed by comparing observed and predicted risk. Discrimination was sufficient, with a receiver operator curve statistic of 0.70. Mean 5-year risk of CVD in ail patients was 12.0 ± 7.5%, whereas 54% of the patients had a 5-year risk ≥10%. CONCLUSIONS -- This more simplified risk equation enables 5-year risk prediction of CVD based on easily available nonlaboratory predictors in clinical practice and A1C and was elaborated in a large observational study obtained from the normal patient population aged up to 70 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent randomised prospective studies, lifestyle intervention induced a weight loss of approximately 5%. Objective: To describe and evaluate a 2-year on-going group intervention program in clinical practice in terms of weight loss and changes in metabolic risk factors, i.e. sagital abdominal diameter (SAD), triglycerides, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure. Design: The aim of the intervention program was to motivate lifestyle changes concerning food intake and physical activity. The emphasis was on lifestyle modification, followed up at regular visits during 2 years. Subjects evaluated were 100 women with mean BMI 37.6 kg/m2 and 26 men with mean BMI 36.5 kg/m2. Results: One hundred of 151 enrolled women and 26 of 36 men completed the program. Mean weight decreased by 3.8 kg in women (from 103.5 to 99.7, p<0.001) and 4.4 kg in men (from 116.5 to 112.1, p<0.05), respectively. SAD decreased by 5% (p=0.001 in women, p=0.01 in men), and triglycerides by 16% in women (p=0.01) and 24% in men (p=0.001), however systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased slightly but significantly. Conclusion: It is possible to perform a clinical lifestyle intervention program for outpatients on an ongoing basis with weight loss, lowered SAD and triglycerides, and a similar or lower dropout rate compared to clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore if the predictive power of mid-life electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities and conventional cardiovascular risk factors for future myocardial infarction, change over a 30-year follow-up period and if repeated examination improves their predictive power. Design and setting. Longitudinal population-based study. Participants. A total of 2322 men aged 50 years, with a total follow-up period of 30 years and 1221 subjects were re-examined at age of 70 years. Main outcome measure. Risk for fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction ( n = 470) analysed at age 50 and 70 years, and separately for 1–10, 11–20 and 21–30 years after first examination. Investigations included a 12-lead ECG, blood pressure, body mass index, smoking habits, and glucose and lipid variables. Results. Whilst high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia variables, such as apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio, measured at age 50 showed an almost unchanged predictive power during the three decades of follow up, ECG abnormalities, insulin and BMI were only significant predictors during the two first decades of follow up. Despite increased prevalences of ECG abnormalities and obesity with age, they predicted for future myocardial infarction in midlife only whilst fasting insulin and smoking regained their predictive power when re-measured at age 70. Conclusion. Whilst hypertension and dyslipidaemia were consistent as risk factors, length of follow-up period and age at baseline investigations affected the predictive power of ECG abnormalities, fasting insulin, BMI and smoking. In the elderly, ECG abnormalities did not contribute to the prediction of myocardial infarction but smoking and fasting insulin may be important in the pathophysiology leading to MI especially in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]