Abstract
The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in type 2 diabetes is two- to threefold higher than in the general population, but the effect of diabetes duration on CHD risk has not been well characterized. It is hypothesized that duration of diabetes is an important predictor of incident CHD among people with diabetes.
Effect of Diabetes On CHD Mortality: An Introduction
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes) in the United States is growing (Kannel, 1979; American Heart Association, 2002); the burden of suffering caused by its complications is heavy (Wilson et al, 2003) and may also be growing. These complications include increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), (Cho et al, 2002) ESRD, (Hu et al , 2001; Morgan et al, 2000) blindness, Brun et al, 2000) and amputation of the lower extremities (Sievers et al, 1992; Nelson et al, 1990). The magnitude of the risk for these complications varies among persons with a new clinical diagnosis of diabetes. After 10 years, more than 20 percent of such persons will have suffered a major cardiovascular event (e.g., myocardial infarction [MI], stroke, heart failure, or sudden death), fewer than 5 percent will have developed blindness, and fewer than 2 percent will have developed ESRD or had lower extremity amputation. (Jarrett et al, 1988).
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is widespread in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) (Laakso et al, 1997). In the 197680 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II, the prevalence of angina was higher in people with than in those without diabetes. The 1989 U.S. National Health Interview Study showed a higher occurrence of CHD in people with diabetes (Wingard et al, 1995). In the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, the age-adjusted incidence of CHD was four times greater in people with than in those without diabetes Stamler et al, 1993)..............
