The heart in diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is associated with a two- to four-fold increased risk of coronary artery disease, and in diabetic people, about two-thirds of deaths are cardiovascular (ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure and stroke).Some have suggested diabetes mellitus to be a coronary heart disease risk equivalent (having the same event rates as people without diabetes but with prior cardiovascular disease). However, this concept remains controversial, especially in younger patients.