What is it about?
Atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus are widespread, global diseases with an increasing prevalence and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Both disorders are separately associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular complications and death. In this nationwide, Swedish study we show that this risk is even more pronounced when atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus coexist. Individuals with atrial fibrillation and diabetes have a higher risk for cardiovascular complications such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, as well as a higher risk for death, as compared to individuals with atrial fibrillation only. The mortality risk in coexisting disease is more than doubled as compared to the general population.
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Why is it important?
The findings of our study underline the importance of identifying these high-risk individuals who have the most to benefit from an intensive risk factor intervention and optimizing our treatment strategies to mitigate their excess cardiovascular risk. Such studies can be a foundation for an improved future planning and distribution of healthcare resources.
Perspectives
I hope this article can contribute in leading healthcare practitioners that take care of individuals with atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus to focus their attention in this high-risk group with coexisting disease and even to increased cooperation between cardiologists and endocrinologists to optimize treatment in these individuals.
Stelios Karayiannides
Karolinska Institutet
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: High overall cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation and diabetes: A nationwide report, Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research, October 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1479164117735013.
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