Alessandro Mantovani1, Riccardo Rigolon2, Isabella Pichiri2, Giovanni Morani3, Stefano Bonapace4, Clementina Dugo4, Giacomo Zoppini2, Enzo Bonora2, Giovanni Targher2. 1. Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.mantovani@univr.it. 2. Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy. 3. Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy. 4. Division of Cardiology, "Sacro Cuore" Hospital, Negrar (VR), Italy.
Abstract
AIMS: Several studies have reported that moderately elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with an increased risk of tachyarrhythmias (mainly atrial fibrillation) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is currently unknown whether an association also exists between elevated serum uric acid levels and cardiac conduction defects in patients with T2DM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a hospital-based sample of 967 patients with T2DM discharged from our Division of Endocrinology over the years 2007-2014. Standard electrocardiograms were performed on all patients and were interpreted by expert cardiologists. RESULTS: Overall, 267 (27.6%) patients had some type of conduction defects on electrocardiograms (defined as at least one block among first-degree atrio-ventricular block, second-degree block, third-degree block, left bundle branch block, right bundle branch block, left anterior hemi-block or left posterior hemi-block). Patients in the 3rd serum uric acid tertile had a higher prevalence of any cardiac conduction defects than those belonging to 2nd or 1st tertile, respectively (35.8% vs. 25.0% vs. 22.6%; p<0.0001). Elevated serum uric acid levels were associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of cardiac conduction defects after adjustment for age, sex, hemoglobin A1c, diabetes duration, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and medication use (adjusted-odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence intervals 1.2-2.9; p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Moderately elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with an increased prevalence of any cardiac conduction defects in hospitalized patients with T2DM, independent of multiple risk factors and potential confounding variables.
AIMS: Several studies have reported that moderately elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with an increased risk of tachyarrhythmias (mainly atrial fibrillation) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is currently unknown whether an association also exists between elevated serum uric acid levels and cardiac conduction defects in patients with T2DM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a hospital-based sample of 967 patients with T2DM discharged from our Division of Endocrinology over the years 2007-2014. Standard electrocardiograms were performed on all patients and were interpreted by expert cardiologists. RESULTS: Overall, 267 (27.6%) patients had some type of conduction defects on electrocardiograms (defined as at least one block among first-degree atrio-ventricular block, second-degree block, third-degree block, left bundle branch block, right bundle branch block, left anterior hemi-block or left posterior hemi-block). Patients in the 3rd serum uric acid tertile had a higher prevalence of any cardiac conduction defects than those belonging to 2nd or 1st tertile, respectively (35.8% vs. 25.0% vs. 22.6%; p<0.0001). Elevated serum uric acid levels were associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of cardiac conduction defects after adjustment for age, sex, hemoglobin A1c, diabetes duration, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and medication use (adjusted-odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence intervals 1.2-2.9; p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Moderately elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with an increased prevalence of any cardiac conduction defects in hospitalized patients with T2DM, independent of multiple risk factors and potential confounding variables.
Authors: Louis Gerges; Kyla D'Angelo; David Bass; Arezoo Haghshenas; Daniel J Kersten; Manmeet Ahluwalia; Roman Zelster; Amgad N Makaryus Journal: Am J Cardiovasc Dis Date: 2022-02-15