Elevated glycated haemoglobin in non-diabetic patients is associated with an increased mortality in myocardial infarction

Abstract

Diabetes is associated with increased mortality following acute myocardial infarction compared to the general population. Elevated glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) in diabetic patients is also associated with increased mortality following acute myocardial infarction, white mild elevations in HbA(1c) are associated with impaired glucose tolerance. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of HbA(1c) on outcome of acute myocardial infarction in 253 non-diabetic patients, 46 of whom died in one year. In univariate analysis, risk factors for death included smoking, glucose, cholesterol and HbA(1c). In logistic regression analysis HbA(1c) was an independent risk factor for death. Over one-third of the fatality group had an HbA(1c) in the highest quartile, compared o one-fifth of the surviving group (p= 0.02). Elevated HbA(1c) is a risk marker for short-term mortality following acute myocardial infarction in non-diabetic subjects.