Recent research has highlighted a significant difference in cardiovascular event risk between individuals living with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that type 1 diabetes may be associated with a lower probability of experiencing serious heart and vascular complications. This insight is based on a large-scale study conducted by Andrew M. Goldsweig, M.D., from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, along with his team of researchers. The study analyzed data from patients aged 46 to 75 years who received care at outpatient facilities specializing in primary care or endocrinology, and were enrolled in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Veradigm Metabolic Registry from 2017 to 2022.
The study involved 5,823 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and 156,204 individuals with type 2 diabetes, with a combined total of 758,643 clinic visits assessed over the five-year period. One of the key findings from the data analysis was that patients with type 1 diabetes were generally younger and had fewer coexisting health conditions compared to those with type 2 diabetes. This demographic factor, among others, appeared to contribute to a notably lower prevalence of cardiovascular events in the type 1 diabetes group.
During the course of the study, a total of 11,096 new cardiovascular events were recorded, which included heart attacks (myocardial infarctions), percutaneous coronary interventions such as stent placements, coronary artery bypass surgeries, strokes, carotid artery procedures, limb ischemia, and peripheral vascular interventions. When the rates of these events were compared, the data revealed a prevalence ratio of 0.63 for type 1 diabetes patients relative to those with type 2 diabetes, indicating a significantly lower risk. After adjusting for age, the prevalence ratio remained lower at 0.66, underscoring the robustness of this finding.
Further examination of the data showed that patients with type 1 diabetes experienced fewer incidences of heart attacks, stent procedures, strokes, and limb ischemia compared to those with type 2 diabetes when these events were analyzed separately. Importantly, this pattern of reduced cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes was consistent across all 10-year age brackets and was observed in both male and female patients. Additionally, the trend held steady before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic and remained significant even after adjusting for several health indicators including comorbid conditions, hemoglobin A1c levels, and serum creatinine concentrations.
These findings bring a measure of reassurance for individuals with type 1 diabetes regarding their cardiovascular health prospects, particularly when contrasted with those facing the typically higher-risk profile associated with type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, the study’s authors emphasize the need for continued research specifically focused on patients with type 1 diabetes to further enhance preventive strategies and treatment options for cardiovascular disease in this group. As more data becomes available, healthcare providers may be better equipped to tailor cardiovascular care plans according to the unique needs of individuals with different types of diabetes.
