Objective:

To evaluate the impact of diabetic status on outcome of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Background:

Diabetes has been demonstrated to be a strong predictor of adverse outcome in patients undergoing coronary revascularization. Its significance in predicting outcome of patients undergoing carotid interventions has not been ascertained.

Methods:

This research is an observational, retrospective, comparative, descriptive study.

Results:

279/341 patients/lesions were evaluated for carotid stenosis undergoing stenting. Non-diabetics versus diabetics were compared. Of the diabetic group, 59.5% were men, mostly hypertensive and with hypercholesterolemia. More than 40% of both groups had a prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 68.2% were asymptomatic and a half was high risk, greater comorbidity in the diabetic group with an EuroSCORE > 3, 46 vs 21.4% p = 0.000. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 30 days and accumulated six months in the non-diabetic group (non-DM) versus the diabetic (DM): nine patients (5.4%) versus eight (4.8%), p = 0.756 OR, 95% CI 0.857 (0.322-2.27) and 14 (8.3%) versus nine (5.3%), p = 0.249 OR, 95% CI 0.604 (0254-1435), respectively. Diabetic patients treated with carotid stent who underwent cardiovascular surgery showed a higher intrahospitalary mortality (4.6 vs 0.6%, p = 0.02). There was a higher rate of restenosis (1.9 vs 0%, p = 0.077) in non-diabetic patients. An increased incidence of TIA (transient ischemic attack) was observed in diabetic patients (8.7 vs 3.6%, p = 0.05).

Conclusion:

Diabetics undergoing CAS are more likely to have associated co-morbidities. However despite this handicap, their short term outcome after CAS is similar to that of non diabetics. Endovascular treatment of carotid stenosis may be a good alternative to surgical treatment.

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