Abstract
471 episodes of myocardial infarction in 452 diabetic patients (male 308, female 144) who were treated in Japan between January, 1973 and June, 1975 was studied regarding their relationship between early death from myocardial infarction and therapeutic methods of diabetes before the attacks. The data of these patients were collected from members of Japan Diabetic Society in 379 hospitals and clinics.
The episode number of myocardial infarction in non-treated diabetics and diabetics treated with diet only, oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin was 105, 109, 197 and 54, respectively. There was no remarkable differences in age distribution and the peak of frequency was found in age 60-69 year among the all groups.
Among patients treated with diet only, the mortality within 4 days after the attack of myocardial infarction was 15% and the mortality for patients on therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin was 23% and 28%, respectively. There was no remarkable differences in the mortalities in the early stage (within 4 days) after myocardial infarction among oral therapy and insulin therapy group. The early deaths were commoner in the patients with long duration of diabetes (over five years) and in the elderly patients (over 70 years old).
The mortality one month after myocardial infarction was 48%, 30%, and 26% for the patients treated with insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents and diet only, respectively. In insulin therapy group, the mortality at one month was higher than in other two groups.
The main causes of death within 4 days after the attack of myocardial infarction were left ventricular failure and ventricular fibrillation.
