The influence of hemoglobin A1c levels on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes over 70 years of age. A prospective study

Abstract

Aim: Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a reliable risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients, but information about this relationship in elderly patients is scarce. The aim of this study is to analyze, the relationship between HbA1c levels and the risk of mayor adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with diabetes over 70 years.

Methods: Prospective study of subjects with diabetes using electronic health records from the universal public health system in the Valencian Community, Spain, 2008-2012. We included men and women aged≥70 years with diabetes who underwent routine health examinations in primary care. Primary endpoint was the incidence of MACE: all-cause mortality and/or hospital admission due to coronary heart disease or stroke. A standard Cox and Cox-Aalen models were adjusted.

Results: 5016 subjects were included whit a mean age of 75.1 years (46.7% men). During an average follow-up of 49 months (4.1 years), 807 (16.1%) MACE were recorded. The incidence of MACE was 20.6 per 1000-person-years. Variables significantly associated to the incidence of MACE were male gender (HR: 1.61), heart failure (HR: 2.26), antiplatelet therapy (HR: 1.39), oral antidiabetic treatment (HR: 0.74), antithrombotics (HR: 1.79), while age, creatinine, HbA1c and peripheral arterial disease were time-depend associated variables.

Conclusion: These results highlights the importance of HbA1c level in the incidence of cardiovascular events in older diabetic patients.

Keywords: Aged; Blood HbA1c protein; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Human; Primary health care; Type 2.