Abstract

BACKGROUND: We investigated the associations between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) trajectories and cardiovascular outcomes using data from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study. METHODS: We used HbA1c values within the first 2 years of treatment for modeling with a latent class growth model. Groups of HbA1c trajectories were modeled separately in the standard (group 1-group 4) and intensive (group 5-group 8) treatment arms. The primary outcome in the ACCORD study was a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes. Effects of HbA1c trajectories on cardiovascular outcomes were analyzed using a Cox-proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Baseline HbA1c levels for the eight trajectories (group 1-group 8) were 7.8 ± 0.8, 8.2 ± 0.9, 9.3 ± 1.1, 9.6 ± 1.2, 7.8 ± 0.7, 10.1 ± 0.8, 8.3 ± 0.7, and 9.5 ± 1.1%, respectively. The respective values after 2 years of treatment were 7.0 ± 0.6, 7.7 ± 0.7, 8.5 ± 0.9, 10.3 ± 1.3, 6.2 ± 0.4, 6.5 ± 0.6, 7.2 ± 0.6, and 8.5 ± 1.1%. After a median follow-up of 4.8 years, group 5 and group 6 had similar outcomes compared with group 1 (reference group). In contrast, group 3, group 4, and group 8 had higher risks of the primary composite outcome compared with group 1. CONCLUSION: HbA1c trajectory was associated with cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients with high cardiovascular risk.