22 May Heart Failure Linked to Increased Risk of Diabetes

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Malene Nøhr Demant
Department of Cardiology
Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte
Hellerup, Denmark

MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Demant: Our study shows that increasing severity of heart failure is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. Increasing loop-diuretic dosage was used as a proxy for heart failure severity. Patients with the most severe heart failure were three times more likely to develop diabetes than those with the least severe. Patients who were also being treated with ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors) had a less pronounced increase in diabetes risk.

Patients who developed diabetes were 16% more likely to die than those who did not develop diabetes.

MedicalResearch: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr.  Demant: A previous study has shown an increased risk of diabetes in patients with heart failure following a heart attack, but this new research aimed to analyze all patients with heart failure regardless of whether or not they had had a heart attack. The increase in risk of developing diabetes in a heart failure severity dependent manner was also seen here.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr.  Demant: Our study underlines the need to monitor and treat patients with heart failure to prevent diabetes development. It further emphasizes the importance of identifying the diabetic subgroup of heart failure patients as they have worsened prognosis. Future strategies for heart failure management should include increased awareness of risk of diabetes in patients with severe heart failure.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr.  Demant: Increased awareness on risk of diabetes in severe heart failure is warranted. Initiatives to initiate early and more aggressive pharmacological interventions might be of value, but this needs further investigations.

Citation:

Association of heart failure severity with risk of diabetes: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Malene N. Demant et al. . Diabetologia, May 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-014-3259-z

Last Updated on May 22, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD