Weight change in diabetic adults hints at adverse cardiovascular events

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who have gained or lost weight over 18 months, particularly a ≥5-percent change in weight, are probably at an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, suggests a study.

A team of investigators carried out a cohort study and a meta-analysis to assess 18-month weight change and subsequent risk of macro- and microvascular complications in individuals with T2D. In the cohort study, weight change over 18 months was stratified as follows: gain ≥5 percent, gain 1‒5 percent, stable –1 percent to 1 percent, loss 1‒5 percent, and loss ≥5 percent.

The team performed Cox regression analyses to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). They also used random-effect models to pool results of all relevant studies.

A total of 8,920 participants with valid weight measurements were included in the cohort study.

Compared with patients with stable weight, those with weight change over 18 months had higher risks for total vascular complications (gain ≥5 percent: HR, 1.43, 95 percent CI, 1.10‒1.85; gain 1‒5 percent: HR, 1.44, 95 percent CI, 1.02‒2.03; loss ≥5 percent: HR, 1.58, 95 percent CI, 1.20‒2.08).

Weight change in diabetic patients was also associated with increased risks for macro- (gain ≥5 percent: HR, 1.84, 95 percent CI, 1.16‒2.91; loss 1‒5 percent: HR, 1.91, 95 percent CI, 1.06‒3.43; loss ≥5 percent: HR, 2.18, 95 percent CI, 1.36‒3.49) and microvascular complications (loss ≥5 percent: HR, 1.48, 95 percent CI, 1.06–2.06).

Similar results were seen in the meta-analysis.

“Weight management is recognized as critical in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors for adults with diabetes,” the investigators said.