Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Elevates Risk of Coronary Artery Disease: Study

A recent study from Taiwan revealed a concerning link between newly detected diabetes mellitus and a higher prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). The findings published in the recent issue of BMC Cardiovascular Disorders journal illuminate the importance of early cardiovascular assessment in patients with new diabetes diagnoses.

The study reviewed clinical health data from asymptomatic adults who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) between 2008 and 2018. Among 444 participants, 338 were classified as non-diabetic, 54 with newly detected diabetes mellitus, and 52 with known diabetes mellitus.

The findings demonstrated a contrast between the patients without diabetes and newly diagnosed diabetic individuals. This research found that 40.7% of participants with newly detected diabetes had significant coronary artery disease, which was defined as a narrowing of at least 50% in one or more coronary vessels. In comparison, only 20.1% of non-diabetic participants showed similar findings.

Further analysis revealed that among those with coronary artery stenosis, the average number of blocked coronary vessels was 0.72 in newly diagnosed diabetic patients compared to 0.42 in non-diabetic individuals. The study highlighted this as a significant indicator of the extent of the disease in this group.