Up and down waves of glycemic control and lower-extremity amputation in diabetes

Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2021 Jul 6;20(1):135. doi: 10.1186/s12933-021-01325-3.

Abstract

Lower extremity amputations (LEA) are associated with a high mortality and medical expenditure. Diabetes accounts for 45% to 70% of LEA and is one of the most potent risk factors for peripheral artery diseases (PAD). The existence of a link between the recent relaxation of glycemic targets and the resurgence of LEA is suggested from the analysis of adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2010 and 2015, when diabetes-related LEA increased by more than 25% associated with a decline in glycemic control. Indeed, in "the perfect wave" of NHANES, including the years 2007-2010, there was the highest number of diabetic people with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and blood pressure levels at their respective targets, associated with the lowest number of LEA. Until now, the ACCORD study, testing the role of aggressive vs conventional glucose control, and the LEADER trial, evaluating the effects of liraglutide versus placebo, have shown a reduced incidence of LEA in people with type 2 diabetes. The results of ongoing clinical trials involving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA, liraglutide or semaglutide) hopefully will tell us whether the wider use of these drugs may provide additional vascular benefits for diabetic people affected by PAD to decrease their risk of LEA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Surgical* / adverse effects
  • Amputation, Surgical* / mortality
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / mortality
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / blood
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / diagnosis
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / mortality
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / therapy*
  • Glycemic Control* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lower Extremity / blood supply*
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / blood
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / mortality
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / therapy*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents