Liraglutide treatment is associated with progression of coronary artery fibrous plaque: a prospective 1-year follow-up study in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the association between clinically indicated liraglutide treatment and coronary artery plaque progression during 1-year follow-up in asymptomatic diabetes. METHODS: Patients were divided into a group receiving liraglutide (Lira+) and a group not receiving liraglutide (Lira-). Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was performed to assess total atheroma volume (TAV) and subtypes of plaque volumes (dense calcium, fibrous, fibrous-fatty, and necrotic core plaque) and the plaque progression during one year follow-up. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (27%) receiving liraglutide and 149 (73%) how did not were included. Changes in TAV during 1-year of follow-up were similar in the two groups (38 ± 180 (Lira+) vs. -1 ± 160 mm3 (Lira-), P = 0.13). A greater increase in fibrous plaque volume was seen in the Lira + vs. the Lira- group (34 ± 129 vs. -2 ± 101 mm3, P = 0.04). Changes over 1-year in the other plaque subtypes were similar in the two groups. Treatment duration of liraglutide was not associated with changes in TAV. CONCLUSION: In patients with T2D without known prior coronary artery disease, liraglutide treatment was associated with a significant increase in coronary artery fibrous plaque volume during 1-year follow-up.

Diabetic microvascular complications are associated with reduced global longitudinal strain independent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Reduced left ventricular function, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), is sometimes observed in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and is often present in patients with diabetes-related microvascular complications. Our aim was to assess the association between microvascular complications, coronary artery plaque burden (PB) and GLS in asymptomatic patients with DM and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients with DM without any history, symptoms or objective evidence of obstructive CAD. All patients were identified in the outpatient Clinic of Endocrinology at Odense University Hospital Svendborg. An echocardiography and a coronary computed tomography angiography were performed to assess GLS and the degree of CAD, respectively. A coronary artery stenosis < 50% was considered non-obstructive. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the impact of potential confounders on GLS with adjustment of body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), microvascular complications, type of diabetes, tissue Doppler average early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (e') and PB. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included, of whom 172 (77%) had type 2 DM and 50 (23%) had type 1 diabetes. One hundred and eleven (50%) patients had microvascular complications. GLS decreased as the burden of microvascular complications increased (P-trend = 0.01): no microvascular complications, GLS (- 16.4 ± 2.5%), 1 microvascular complication (- 16.0 ± 2.5%) and 2-3 microvascular complications (- 14.9 ± 2.8%). The reduction in GLS remained significant after multivariable adjustment (ß 0.50 [95% CI 0.11-0.88], p = 0.01). BMI (ß 0.12 [95% CI 0.05-0.19]) and MAP (ß 0.05 [95% CI 0.01-0.08]) were associated with reduced GLS. In addition, an increased number of microvascular complications was associated with increased PB (ß 2.97 [95% CI 0.42-5.51], p = 0.02) in a univariable linear regression model, whereas there was no significant association between PB and GLS. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of microvascular complications was associated with reduced GLS independent of other cardiovascular risk factors in asymptomatic patients with DM and non-obstructive CAD. In addition, the burden of microvascular complications was associated with increasing PB, whereas PB was not associated with GLS.

Dysglycemia and increased left ventricle mass in normotensive patients admitted with a first myocardial infarction: prognostic implications of dysglycemia during 14 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricle mass (LVM) can be influenced by various conditions including hypertension and/or inherent cardiomyopathies. Dysglycemia is also thought to exert an anabolic effect on heart tissue by hyperinsulinemia and thereby promoting increased LVM. The primary aim of this study was to assess the influence of dysglycemia on LVM evaluated by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in patients admitted with a first myocardial infarction (MI) without hypertension. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of dysglycemia on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up. METHODS: Patients admitted with a first MI without known history of hypertension were included. All patients without previously known type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) had a standardized 2-hour OGTT performed and were categorized as: normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and newly detected T2DM (new T2DM). LVM was measured by echocardiography using Devereaux formula and indexed by body surface area. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the impact of confounders (dysglycemia by OGTT, known T2DM, age, sex and type of MI) on LVM. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the impact of dysglycemia on all-cause mortality and a composite endpoint of MACE (all-cause mortality, MI, revascularisation due to stable angina, coronary artery bypass graft, ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke). RESULTS: Two-hundred-and-five patients were included and followed up to 14 years. In multivariate regression analysis, LVM was only significantly increased in patients categorized as new T2DM (ß = 25.3; 95% CI [7.5-43.0]) and known T2DM (ß = 37.3; 95% CI [10.0-64.5]) compared to patients with NGT. Patients with new T2DM showed higher rates of MACE and all-cause mortality compared to patients with IFG/IGT and NGT; however no significantly increased hazard ratio was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Dysglycemia is associated with increasing LVM in normotensive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction and the strongest association was observed in patients with new T2DM and patients with known T2DM. Dysglycemia in normotensive patients with a first MI is not an independent predictor of neither MACE nor all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up compared to normotensive patients without dysglycemia.

Network of doctors for multimorbidity and diabetes - the NOMAD intervention: protocol for feasibility trial of multidisciplinary team conferences for people with diabetes and multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes and coexisting multimorbidity rises worldwide. Treatment of this patient group can be complex. Providing an evidence-based, coherent, and patient-centred treatment of patients with multimorbidity poses a challenge in healthcare systems, which are typically designed to deliver disease-specific care. We propose an intervention comprising multidisciplinary team conferences (MDTs) to address this issue. The MDT consists of medical specialists in five different specialities meeting to discuss multimorbid diabetes patients. This protocol describes a feasibility test of MDTs designed to coordinate care and improve quality of life for people with diabetes and multimorbidity. METHODS: A mixed-methods one-arm feasibility test of the MDT. Feasibility will be assessed through prospectively collected data. We will explore patient perspectives through patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and assess the feasibility of electronic questionnaires. Feasibility outcomes are recruitment, PRO completion, technical difficulties, impact of MDT, and doctor preparation time. During 17 months, up to 112 participants will be recruited. We will report results narratively and by the use of descriptive statistics. The collected data will form the basis for a future large-scale randomised trial. DISCUSSION: A multidisciplinary approach focusing on better management of diabetic patients suffering from multimorbidity may improve functional status, quality of life, and health outcomes. Multimorbidity and diabetes are highly prevalent in our healthcare system, but we lack a solid evidence-based approach to patient-centred care for these patients. This study represents the initial steps towards building such evidence. The concept can be efficiency tested in a randomised setting, if found feasible to intervention providers and receivers. If not, we will have gained experience on how to manage diabetes and multimorbidity as well as organisational aspects, which together may generate hypotheses for research on how to handle multimorbidity in the future. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION: Protocol version: 01 TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05913726 - registration date: 21 June 2023.

Physician-led in-hospital multidisciplinary team conferences with multiple medical specialities present - A scoping review.

Introduction: Multidisciplinary Team Conferences (MDTs) are complex interventions in the modern healthcare system and they promote a model of coordinated patient care and management. However, MDTs within chronic diseases are poorly defined. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to summarise the current literature on physician-led in-hospital MDTs in chronic non-malignant diseases. Method: Following the PRISMA-ScR guideline for scoping reviews, a search on MDT interventions in adult patients, with three or more medical specialties represented, was performed. Results: We identified 2790 studies, from which 8 studies were included. The majority of studies were non-randomised and focused on a single disease entity such as infective endocarditis, atrial fibrillation, IgG4-related disease, or arterial and venous thrombosis. The main reason for referral was confirmation or establishment of a diagnosis, and the MDT members were primarily from medical specialties gathered especially for the MDT. Outcomes of the included studies were grouped into process indicators and outcome indicators. Process indicators included changes in diagnostic confirmation as well as therapeutic strategy and management. All studies reporting process indicators demonstrated significant changes before and after the MDT. Conclusion: MDTs within chronic diseases appeared highly heterogeneous with respect to structure, reasons for referral, and choice of outcomes. While process indicators, such as change in diagnosis, and treatment management/plan seem improved, such have not been demonstrated through outcome indicators.

Thyroid disorders in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis is associated with poor initial treatment response evaluated by disease activity score in 28 joints-C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP): An observational cohort study.

To determine the prevalence of thyroid disorders among newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and evaluate the association between clinical characteristics of RA and thyroid disorders, and also initial treatment response in the RA patients with thyroid disorders.Newly diagnosed, adult RA patients who were diagnosed according to the new 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria since January 1, 2010, were included. Patients' demographic data, serology results including immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor (IgM RF), anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), and antinuclear antibody (ANA), and also disease activity score in 28 joints-C-reactive protein at the time of diagnosis and after 4 months (±1-2 months) of treatment initiation were extracted from Danish Danbio Registry. Patients' electronic hospital records for the past 10 years were reviewed to reveal if they had been diagnosed with thyroid disorders or they had abnormal thyroid test.In all, 439 patients were included, female 60.1%, mean age 64.6 ±â€Š15.0 years and disease duration 2.6 ±â€Š1.7 years. Prevalence of thyroid disorders was 69/439 (15.7%) and hypothyroidism was the most frequent disorder (30.4%). The presence of thyroid disorders among RA patients was significantly associated with female sex (P < .001), ANA positivity (P = .04), and anti-CCP ≥100 EU/mL (P = .05). Furthermore, RA patients with thyroid disorders had significantly poorer initial response to RA treatment compared with patients with isolated RA after 4 months of treatment (P = .02). There were no associations between thyroid disorders and age, disease duration, and also IgM RF positivity.Presence of thyroid disorders in RA patients is suggestive of a more aggressive disease and poor outcome, with direct effect on initial treatment response. To diagnose concurrent thyroid disorders at an earlier stage, routine measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone is recommended in all RA patients at the time of diagnosis and with yearly interval thereafter.

Newly detected abnormal glucose regulation and long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction: Comparison of an oral glucose tolerance test and glycosylated haemoglobin A1c.

BACKGROUND: An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and/or glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) identify patients with increased mortality risk, but no comparison of the long-term prognostic values has yet been investigated. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort enrolling patients with AMI between 2002 until 2008 and follow-up until 1st October, 2012. Patients without known diabetes mellitus (DM) underwent an OGTT. Seventy-nine patients with known DM did not have an OGTT performed. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. We included 548 patients with AMI, of whom 469 underwent a standardized OGTT and were stratified according to OGTT and HbA1c. RESULTS: During 9.8years of follow-up, 179 (33%) patients died. In patients having increased HbA1c ≥6.5%, a significantly increased mortality was observed (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.60 [1.09-2.34]). However, when adjusting for known DM, no significance was detected. An OGTT did not show a significantly increased mortality, if used separately. A combined estimate showed a significantly increased mortality in patients categorized as newly diagnosed DM by OGTT and HbA1c<6.5% (HR 1.56 [95% CI 1.07-2.30]) compared to patients categorized as normal/impaired fasting glycaemia/impaired glucose tolerance by OGTT and HbA1c <6.5%. Approximately 50% of the patients with newly diagnosed DM by OGTT were only detected due to 2-hour post-load glucose values. CONCLUSION: An OGTT is recommended in AMI patients without known DM and HbA1c<6.5%. Patients categorized as newly diagnosed DM by OGTT although HbA1c <6.5% share the same high risk of mortality as patients with HbA1c≥6.5%.

Improving Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with hypertension, medication adherence is often suboptimal, thereby increasing the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. In a randomized trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting to improve medication adherence in hypertensive patients. Motivational interviewing was a key element of the intervention. METHODS: Patients (n = 532) were recruited from 3 hospital outpatient clinics and randomized to usual care or a 6-month pharmacist intervention comprising collaborative care, medication review, and tailored adherence counseling including motivational interviewing and telephone follow-ups. The primary outcome was composite medication possession ratio (MPR) to antihypertensive and lipid-lowering agents, at 1-year follow-up, assessed by analyzing pharmacy records. Secondary outcomes at 12 months included persistence to medications, blood pressure, hospital admission, and a combined clinical endpoint of cardiovascular death, stroke, or acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: At 12 months, 20.3% of the patients in the intervention group (n = 231) were nonadherent (MPR <0.80), compared with 30.2% in the control group (n = 285) (risk difference -9.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17.3, -2.4) and median MPR (interquartile range) was 0.93 (0.82-0.99) and 0.91 (0.76-0.98), respectively, P = .02. The combined clinical endpoint was reached by 1.3% in the intervention group and 3.1% in the control group (relative risk 0.41; 95% CI, 0.11-1.50). No significant differences were found for persistence, blood pressure, or hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted pharmacist intervention in a hospital setting led to a sustained improvement in medication adherence for patients with hypertension. The intervention had no significant impact on blood pressure and secondary clinical outcomes.

Prevalence of endocrine diseases and abnormal glucose tolerance tests in 340 Caucasian premenopausal women with hirsutism as the referral diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform an audit on the examination of hirsute patients and to establish a rational routine examination program in an outpatient endocrine clinic. DESIGN: Systematic, retrospective audit. SETTING: Academic tertiary-care medical center. PATIENT(S): Three hundred forty women with hirsutism as the referral diagnosis. INTERVENTION(S): Hormone analyses and ACTH tests during cycle days 2-8, 2 hours of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and vaginal ultrasound. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): End diagnosis, fasting, 30-, 60-, and 120-minute oral glucose-stimulated levels of insulin and capillary blood glucose. RESULT(S): Two hundred one patients were diagnosed as having idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and 134 as having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). End diagnosis: prolactinoma: n = 1, Cushing's syndrome: n = 1, androgen-producing ovarian tumor: n = 1, late-onset 21-hydroxylase defects: n = 2. During OGTT, 4.9% (13 of 263) had previously undiagnosed diabetes; no significant difference in diabetes prevalence was found between idiopathic hirsutism and PCOS. For 50.8%, fasting insulin values were in the upper quartile for a reference population. CONCLUSION(S): Initial evaluation of hirsute patients with irregular menses should include serum (s)-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, s-prolactin, s-Testosterone (T), and s-sex hormone-binding globulin. Further evaluation is needed in patients with markedly elevated s-T or with clinical Cushing's syndrome. Hirsute patients have a high risk of diabetes, although this could be due to the high number of overweight patients among this population.

Pharmacological treatment of the pathogenetic defects in type 2 diabetes: the randomized multicenter South Danish Diabetes Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of treatment with insulin aspart compared with NPH insulin, together with metformin/placebo and rosiglitazone/placebo. The hypothesis was that combined correction of major pathogenetic defects in type 2 diabetes would result in optimal glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a 2-year investigator-driven randomized partly placebo-controlled multicenter trial in 371 patients with type 2 diabetes on at least oral antiglycemic treatment. Patients were assigned to one of eight treatment groups in a factorial design with insulin aspart at mealtimes versus NPH insulin once daily at bedtime, metformin twice daily versus placebo, and rosiglitazone twice daily versus placebo. The main outcome measurement was change in A1C. RESULTS: A1C decreased more in patients treated with insulin aspart compared with NPH (-0.41 ± 0.10%, P < 0.001). Metformin decreased A1C compared with placebo (-0.60 ± 0.10%, P < 0.001), as did rosiglitazone (-0.55 ± 0.10%, P < 0.001). Triple therapy (rosiglitazone, metformin, and any insulin) resulted in a greater reduction in A1C than rosiglitazone plus insulin (-0.50 ± 0.14%, P < 0.001) and metformin plus insulin (-0.45 ± 0.14%, P < 0.001). Aspart was associated with a higher increase in body weight (1.6 ± 0.6 kg, P < 0.01) and higher incidence of mild daytime hypoglycemia (4.9 ± 7.5 vs. 1.7 ± 5.4 number/person/year, P < 0.001) compared with NPH. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia results in lower A1C than treatment of fasting hyperglycemia, at the expense of higher body weight and hypoglycemic episodes. However, insulin therapy has to be combined with treatment of both peripheral and liver insulin resistance to normalize blood glucose, and in this case, the insulin regimen is less important.

[Prevalence and prognostic significance of pathological glucose metabolism in acute myocardial infarction]. / Forekomst og prognostisk betydning af patologisk glukosemetabolisme ved akut myokardieinfarkt.

Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of developing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and recent investigations have shown that impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) contributes to a comparable increased risk of AMI. Studies in which oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has been used to diagnose IGT/diabetes report a prevalence of unrecognized pathological glucose metabolism in 54-66% of admitted patients. Newly detected diabetes by OGTT, but not IGT, also correlates strongly with prognosis after AMI even after adjusting for traditional risk factors.

[Prevalence of glucometabolic abnormalities in connection with myocardial infarction in a Danish coronary care unit]. / Forekomsten af patologisk glukosemetabolisme ved akut myokardieinfarkt på et dansk koronarafsnit.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of previously undiscovered glucometabolic abnormalities such as diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) has been shown to be high among selected groups with myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of known diabetes and undiagnosed glucometabolic abnormalities in an unselected population with myocardial infarction (MI) at admission and after 3 months by use of oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During an 18-month period patients consecutively admitted with acute MI in a Danish coronary care unit were included. Out of the 218 patients included, 44 had known diabetes. Using the results of OGTT and fasting venous plasma glucose measures, the remaining 174 patients were classified in glucometabolic categories. 80 out of 111 invited patients were classified by OGTT after 3 months. RESULTS: 71% of the cohort had abnormal glucose metabolism, 29% IGT, 22% newly detected diabetes and 20% established diabetes. There were no significant differences in body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL, LDL or triglycerides in the groups without known diabetes. Patients with abnormal glucose metabolism were older than their normal glucose tolerance counterparts. There was a trend towards normalization of glucometabolism after 3 months. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in MI-populations is high. Among individuals with presumably normal glucose tolerance 37% were classified as IGT and 27% as diabetics. Association between common risk factors for both abnormal glucose regulation and MI could not explain these findings. OGTT is probably required for correct diagnosis of abnormal glucose regulation in patients with MI.

Low levels of the 150-kD insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 ternary complex in patients with anorexia nervosa: effect of partial weight recovery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In healthy adults, serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF), IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and acid-labile subunit (ALS) form a 150-kD ternary complex under the control of growth hormone (GH). Circulating IGF-I half-life, bioavailability, and endocrine actions depend on the ternary complex formation. Despite GH hypersecretion, serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and ALS levels have all been reported to be low in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), while the degree of ternary complex formation in AN is unknown. METHODS: Serum ALS and 150-kD ternary complex formation were measured in 6 women with AN at the time of diagnosis and after partial weight recovery and in 6 healthy age-matched women serving as controls. RESULTS: Patients with AN had low levels of ALS and IGFBP-3 contained in the 150-kD ternary complex and in the non-150-kD fraction. Following partial weight recovery, the 150-kD IGFBP-3 ternary complex was fully normalized, despite only partial normalization of serum GH and IGF-I levels. Patients with AN did not present with IGFBP-3 proteolysis different from controls. CONCLUSION: The present data indicate a pivotal role of the nutritional status in the regulation of each of the three components of the 150-kDa ternary IGFBP-3 complex and in the formation of the complex itself.