Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease In High-Risk Diabetic Patients With And Without Atrial Fibrillation

Objective To investigate the severity of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography in age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes mellitus with atrial fibrillation versus sinus rhythm.Methods The patients included 245 men and women, mean age of 70 years, with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and 245 age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes and sinus rhythm who underwent coronary angiography. Baseline characteristics and indications for coronary angiography were similar in both groups.Results Greater than 50% narrowing of one, two, or three major coronary arteries were present in 229 of 245 patients (94%) with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and in 211 of 245 patients (86%) with diabetes and with sinus rhythm (P<0.01). Greater than 50% narrowing of three major coronary arteries were present in 150 of 245 patients (61%) with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and in 75 of 245 patients (31%) with diabetes and sinus rhythm (P<0.001).Conclusion Patients with diabetes and atrial fibrillation have a significantly higher prevalence of greater than 50% narrowing of one or more major coronary arteries and of three major coronary arteries than patients with diabetes and sinus rhythm. Coron Artery Dis 20:91-93 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.