Diabetes mellitus [diagnosed and undiagnosed] in acute myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

To determine the proportion of Diabetes Mellitus [DM] in patients with documented first episode of Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI], in both genders. A prospective, case control observational study. Emergency Room, CCU and Medical wards of Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana, Pakistan, from January 2005 to August 2005. 200 patients 100 consecutive males and 100 consecutive females, presenting with definite first episode of AMI. Diagnosis of D.M established on previous history of D.M, medical record and medications used by patient, patients without previous diagnosis of D.M [Undiagnosed], were diagnosed by performing Fasting Plasma Glucose [FPG], once within around 72 hours and 8 weeks later on. Out of 200 patients 49 [24.5%] were known diabetics, 20 [10%] revealed hyperglycemia [suspected diabetics] on routine plasma glucose level and Fasting Plasma Glucose [FPG] petformed within 72 hours of the onset of AMI and on subsequent follow up after 8 weeks, FPG level performed revealed 12 [6%] newly diagnosed definitive diabetics, while 5 [2.5%] revealed Impaired Glucose Tolerance Test [GTT] and 3 [1.5%] were found to be non-diabetics, so that a total 61 [30.5%] were labeled as diabetics. one out of every three patients with AMI had DM, elevated levels of random blood glucose and FPG at the time of admission are not reliable measures to establish the diagnosis of diabetes in cases of AMI and thus follow up measurements after a period of 6-8 weeks are necessary to establish the diagnosis. Awareness in general public regarding deleterious effects of DM should be promoted