Cumulative Metabolic Exposure to Hyperglycemia and Risk of Cardiovascular and Limb Events in Peripheral Artery Disease

The study examined the impact of long-term exposure to elevated blood sugar levels on the risk of serious health events in patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetes. The research included 45,109 veterans with newly diagnosed peripheral artery disease, of whom 30.4% had hemoglobin A1c levels higher than 8%. During follow-up averaging 4.2 years, 18.4% of patients experienced a cardiovascular event and 18.2% experienced a limb event. Patients with A1c levels higher than 8% had a 38% increased risk of heart attack or stroke and a 60% increased risk of severe limb-threatening ischemia compared to those with lower levels. The results demonstrated that long-term exposure to elevated blood sugar levels is associated with a markedly increased risk of serious events, particularly affecting the limbs.