A large retrospective study revealed that substantial cognitive impairment increased the risk of significant cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, composite of stroke or death among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Data from the 8,772 patients included in the REWIND trial followed up for approximately 5 years showed that individuals with type 2 diabetes having enhanced cognitive impairment had a higher risk of significant cardiovascular events. 905 participants with substantive cognitive impairment (SCI) had a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as myocardial infarction (HR 1.30, 95 per cent CI 1.11-1.62, P=0.003) and the composite of stroke or death (HR 1.60, 95 per cent CI 1.33-1.91, P0.001) when compared to the 7867 unaffected participants.

The researchers found a strong relationship between mental health and cardiovascular diseases. In persons with diabetes and other cardiac risk factors, poor cognitive tests scores indicated an increased risk of heart disease. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. (MedPage Today April 21, 2022), J Clin Enocrinol Metab 2022.