Impact of diabetes mellitus on outcome of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting: insights from a single center registry.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of diabetic status on outcome of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS).

BACKGROUND

Diabetes has been demonstrated to be a strong predictor of adverse outcome in patients undergoing coronary revascularization. Its significance in predicting outcome of patients undergoing carotid interventions has not been ascertained.

METHODS

We evaluated the short-term outcomes of 833 patients who underwent CAS at our institution. The primary outcome of this analysis was 30 day incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death.

RESULTS

Diabetes was present in 311 patients. Baseline characteristics were comparable between diabetics and nondiabetics except for the diabetics having a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, lower hemoglobin, and a higher body mass index at baseline. Further, they were more likely to have congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. There was no difference in the incidence of stroke (1.9% versus 2.7%,), myocardial infarction (MI) (2.6% versus 1.9%), death (3.9% versus 2.5%), or the composite of death stroke or MI (6.8% versus 5.9%) at 30 days between diabetics and nondiabetics. Similar results were seen when the analysis was restricted to patients treated with an emboli protection device. Diabetes was not a risk factor for adverse outcome after CAS after multivariate adjustment.

CONCLUSION

Diabetics undergoing CAS are more likely to have associated co-morbidities. However despite this handicap, their short term outcome after CAS is similar to that of nondiabetics.