1 out of every 3 adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes might harbor undetected cardiovascular disease. Recent research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access and peer-reviewed journal by the American Heart Association, reveals that elevated levels of two protein biomarkers, indicating heart damage, were found to be linked with undetected or symptomless cardiovascular disease in adults with Type 2 diabetes when compared to individuals without Type 2 diabetes.
The study involved an analysis of health data and blood samples from over 10,300 adults who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. The primary objective was to investigate whether elevated levels of cardiac protein biomarkers could serve as indicators of previously undetected cardiovascular disease in individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes, even in the absence of symptoms. All participants enrolled in the study had reported no prior history of cardiovascular disease.
To examine the associations between elevated levels of troponin and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, researchers utilized stored blood samples obtained from all participants in the study. Additionally, they collected mortality data from the National Death Index. By considering factors such as age, race, income, and cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers adjusted the analysis. They then evaluated the relationships between elevated levels of these cardiac biomarkers and the risk of death from cardiovascular causes or any cause in general.
The study yielded the following findings:
- Approximately 33.4% of adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes exhibited elevated levels of the two protein markers, indicating undetected cardiovascular disease. In comparison, only 16.1% of individuals without diabetes showed similar signs.
- Among adults with Type 2 diabetes, elevated levels of troponin and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were linked to a higher risk of all-cause death (increased risk of 77% and 78%, respectively) and cardiovascular death (more than double the increased risk and 54% increased risk, respectively), compared to individuals with normal levels of these proteins. The elevated risk persisted even after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.
- After adjusting for age, individuals with Type 2 diabetes exhibited a higher prevalence of elevated troponin levels across various categories such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and weight. On the other hand, when age was taken into account, there was no significant elevation in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes compared to those without diabetes.
- The prevalence of elevated troponin levels was notably higher in individuals with Type 2 diabetes who had a longer duration of the condition and poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
