Open Longevity Science

2008, 2 : 104-106
Published online 2008 November 21. DOI: 10.2174/1876326X00802010104
Publisher ID: TOLSJ-2-104

Prevalence of Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus with and without Hypothyroidism

Bredy Pierre-Louis , Wilbert S. Aronow , Chandrasekar Palaniswamy , Tarunjit Singh , Melvin B. Weiss , Kumar Kalapatapu , Anthony L. Pucillo and Craig E. Monsen
Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion, Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

ABSTRACT

Background:

The prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism versus a control group of patients with diabetes mellitus without hypothyroidism undergoing coronary angiography needed to be investigated.

Methods:

Coronary angiography was performed on 173 patients with diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism and in a control group of 179 patients with diabetes mellitus without hypothyroidism because of a recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina (48% of both groups) or chest pain with a positive stress test (52% of both groups). Obstructive CAD was diagnosed if there was >50% obstruction of at least 1 major coronary artery.

Results:

>50% narrowing of 1 or more major coronary arteries was present in 145 of 173 patients (84%) with diabetes with hypothyroidism and in 132 of 179 patients (74%) with diabetes without hypothyroidism (p<0.025). >50% narrowing of 3 major coronary arteries was present in 69 of 173 patients (40%) with diabetes with hypothyroidism and in 39 of 179 patients (22%) with diabetes without hypothyroidism (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, patients with diabetes mellitus with hypothyroidism have a higher prevalence of obstructive CAD of 1 or more major coronary arteries and of 3 major coronary arteries than patients with diabetes without hypothyroidism.

Keywords:

Diabetes mellitus, Hypothyroidism, Coronary artery disease.