The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the most common chronic diseases in the world, affecting about 180 million people in 2008, and the number is expected to be doubled by 2030 There are as many as 12.5 million diabetic patients with silent coronary artery disease.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and extent of coronary artery disease among diabetic patients with occult CHD.
Methods: A comparative study of asymptomatic diabetic patients and control group for evidence of CAD was conducted over the period from May 2012 to November 2013. The studied population includes a total of 82 diabetic patients and 82 healthy persons as a control group. Both diabetic and control groups underwent exercise stress test by treadmill, and coronary angiography was done to patients with positive test.
Results: There was highly significant association (P<0.01) between CAD and positive exercise stress test in diabetic group but no association in control group, CAD was present in 50% (8/16) of patients with DM and positive exercise stress test whereas in control group no one of them had CAD (0/6).
Conclusions: The study show that there is highly significant association between diabetes milletus and coronary artery disease in asymptomatic diabetic patients.