The Euro Heart Survey - Germany: diabetes mellitus remains unrecognized in patients with coronary artery disease.

aimDiabetes mellitus is associated with a poor prognosis due to a high rate of coronary artery disease. It was the aim of this survey to assess the prevalence of an impaired glucose tolerance and manifest diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

methodsWe analyzed data of all German centers participating in the Euro Heart Survey on diabetes and the heart, an European-wide multicenter prospective observational study. Participating centers were asked to recruit patients >18 years with a diagnosis of CAD.

resultsIn Germany, 261 patients with a diagnosis of CAD were enrolled in five participating centers. Patients were divided into an acutely (22,4%; n = 57) or electively admitted (77,6%; n = 198) group. There were 34% (n = 89) of patients with already known diabetes. In 36% (n = 22 of 56) of the patients without previously known diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed (3%, n = 5 in the acute and 33%, n = 51 in the elective group). As a result, 39% (n = 22 of 56) of these patients had an impaired glucose tolerance (acute group: 0%, n = 0 of 5; elective group: 43%, n = 22 of 51) and in 13% (n = 7 of 56) diabetes mellitus was diagnosed (acute group: 40%, n = 2 of 5; elective group: 10%, n = 5 of 51). Furthermore, on admission 86% of women and 94% of men reported to exercise less than three times per week and thus less than recommended in current guidelines.

conclusionMore than one third of the patients with CAD who underwent an OGTT had an impaired glucose tolerance. Implementation of this simple, effective and inexpensive test into clinical routine of patients with CAD would help diagnose diabetes mellitus and thus grant these high risk patients access to an optimal medical, interventional and surgical therapy. Furthermore, patients ought to be encouraged to include exercise training into their daily routine.