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Blood Glucose Levels and Heart Attack Death RiskSuleiman M, Hammerman H, Boulos M, et al.: Fasting glucose is an important independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 111:754-760, 2005. What is the problem and what is known about it so far?Many people with heart attack symptoms also have high blood glucose levels. Very little is known about the link between fasting glucose levels (glucose levels taken before a person eats ) and how likely they are to survive a heart attack. The researchers wanted to find out if having high blood glucose levels has an effect on a person's ability to survive a heart attack. Who was studied?A total of 735 people who had heart attack symptoms but not diabetes were studied between July 2001 and January 2004. How was the study done?A blood sample was taken from each patient who entered the hospital. A second sample was taken after 8 hours of fasting (not eating), and within 24 hours of being admitted. Thirty days later, researchers followed up with the patients. What did the researchers find?The researchers found that 65 of the patients died. Fifty-six of these patients had high blood glucose levels when they got to the hospital for heart attack symptoms. The researchers believe that fasting glucose levels are a better predictor for death than were the glucose levels taken when the patients entered the hospital. What were the limitations of the study?It is possible that undiagnosed diabetes may explain the rate of death and increased illness associated with high blood glucose. What are the implications of the study?It is possible that a higher fasting blood glucose level increases the risk of a poor outcome from a heart attack. |
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