Diabetes in patients with incident acute myocardial infarction: characteristics, frequency, treatment and complications in a population-based sample

Objective To investigate predictors of a diabetes diagnosis after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to examine characteristics, preventive measures, treatment and complications of diabetic AMI patients. Methods AMI patients registered by the Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg between 2017 and 2019 (n=1.712) received a postal questionnaire in 2023 with questions on diabetes status, diabetes care and diabetes related complications (response: 50.1%). Logistic regression models were calculated to identify predictors related to a subsequent diabetes diagnosis after first-time AMI. For diabetic patients, important characteristics of diabetes care and the frequency of complications were examined. Additionally, it was examined which diabetic AMI patients were aware of the interconnection between diabetes and AMI. Results A total of 200 patients (27.4%) that responded to the survey had diabetes, 40 of them received the diagnosis after first-time hospitalized AMI. Body mass index (BMI) [OR: 1.13 [1.05-1.21], p value: 0.001] and blood glucose levels [OR: 1.01 [1.00-1.02], p value: 0.007] at hospital admission were independent predictors of a diagnosis of diabetes during follow-up. Three quarters of diabetic AMI patients knew their current HbA1c value (median 6.9%; IQR: 6.2 - 7.4%). Only 40 (23%) patients with diabetes were aware of the interconnection between diabetes and AMI. Conclusion BMI and admission blood glucose were predictors of diabetes after AMI. Based on HbA1c values, overall glycemic control needs improvements in many patients. Less than a quarter of diabetic AMI patients were aware of the relationship between diabetes and AMI which emphasizes the need for specific education of these patients.