Angiographic severity and extent of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients

Coronary artery disease is the most important complication of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this retrospective single center study was to evaluate the association between the presence of diabetes mellitus and the findings of coronary angiography. All the patients with diabetes mellitus who underwent cardiac catheterization for symptoms of coronary artery disease at our center between March 2006 and March 2007 were identified. Nondiabetic control subjects were matched individually with diabetic patients for sex and age. Risk factors were considered according to the information provided by the patient and the laboratory parameters were retrieved from catheterization and medical records. Fewer cigarette smokers were reported among the diabetic patients, and dyslipidemia and hypertension were more frequent in this group. Diabetic patients had a significantly greater number of diseased vessels compared with nondiabetic control subjects. The present study confirms the diffuse aspect of coronary artery disease in diabetic patients.