Key result
Diabetes affects ~23% of Chinese HF inpatients, linked to higher WBC, potassium, and lower HDL-C.
Why the study?
Heart failure and diabetes frequently coexist and worsen outcomes, but contemporary evidence on the prevalence and clinical correlates of diabetes among hospitalized HF patients in China remains limited.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,008)
No
Approximately 23% of hospitalized heart failure patients in China have concomitant diabetes, which is associated with factors including female sex, higher systolic blood pressure, statin use, elevated WBC count, higher potassium, and lower HDL-C.
23% diabetes prevalence among Chinese HF inpatients with lab associations; observational data leaves open causal links and screening implications.
Background: Heart failure (HF) and diabetes frequently coexist and are associated with worse outcomes, yet contemporary evidence on the prevalence and clinical correlates of diabetes in hospitalized patients with HF in China remains limited. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from Zigong Fourth People's Hospital. A total of 2,008 adults hospitalized with HF were included, of whom 466 had diabetes. Demographic, clinical, hemodynamic and laboratory variables were extracted from the first admission records. We estimated the prevalence of diabetes and used univariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with diabetes. Machine learning models were applied to rank variable importance, and restricted cubic splines were used to explore the shapes of these associations. Sex- and age-stratified analyses were further conducted to assess heterogeneity. Results: The prevalence of diabetes among hospitalized patients with HF was 23.21% (95% CI: 21.39-25.13). In multivariable models, female sex, higher systolic blood pressure, statin use, elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, and higher serum potassium were associated with greater odds of diabetes, whereas higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was inversely associated with diabetes (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37-0.76). WBC, potassium and HDL-C consistently ranked among the top contributors in both machine learning models. Restricted cubic splines revealed a nonlinear association between WBC count and diabetes, while potassium and HDL-C showed monotonic relationships. In stratified analyses, potassium and HDL-C remained associated with diabetes in females and in patients aged ≥70 years. Conclusion: In Chinese inpatients with HF, approximately one in four had concomitant diabetes. WBC count, blood pressure, potassium and HDL-C were associated with diabetes status, with some variation across sex and age groups. These findings provide additional evidence on the clinical characteristics associated with diabetes in hospitalized patients with HF.
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Li et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure (n=2,008). Clinical correlates (e.g., WBC, potassium, HDL-C) was evaluated on Prevalence of diabetes (95% CI 21.39-25.13). Among Chinese inpatients with heart failure, the prevalence of concomitant diabetes was 23.21%, with higher WBC count, potassium, and lower HDL-C independently associated with diabetes status.
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