Diabetes mellitus and long-term outcome in heart failure patients after surgical ventricular restoration.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the impact of diabetes mellitus and related comorbidities on long-term survival of heart failure patients who had undergone surgical ventricular restoration. Surgical ventricular restoration is an optional therapeutic strategy for patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Reported prognostic predictors for late morbidity and mortality are predominantly related to cardiac conditions, whereas the prognostic impact of comorbidities still needs to be defined.

METHODS: A total of 329 patients (234 nondiabetic and 95 diabetic) who survived the surgical ventricular restoration operation were admitted to this study. Cardiac mortality follow-up data were collected. Actuarial survival curves were calculated for the two groups; differences between groups and the impact of other comorbidities were established using a log-rank test and a Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 44 months. Diabetic patients had a significantly worse survival rate: at 5 years, their survival rate was 81%, versus 89% for nondiabetic patients (p = 0.019). Other comorbidities significantly associated with the survival rate were chronic renal failure, New York Heart Association class, and liver dysfunction. Diabetic patients without comorbidities had a survival rate similar to that of nondiabetic patients. Diabetic patients with at least one comorbidity had a significantly worse outcome. Diabetic patients with chronic renal failure had a 5-year survival rate of 40%, versus 85% for nondiabetic patients (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: Noncomplicated diabetes has no negative impact on long-term survival after surgical ventricular restoration. Conversely, complicated diabetes, namely the presence of chronic renal failure, carries a long-term cardiac mortality risk that is four times higher than the risk for nondiabetic patients.