Serum fibrinogen and cardiovascular events in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and stable coronary artery disease: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum fibrinogen with cardiovascular events (CVE) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

DESIGN: An observational study.

SETTING: FuWai Hospital in Beijing, China.

PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 1466 patients with T2DM and angiographic-proven stable CAD was evaluated.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline serum fibrinogen levels were measured and trisected into 'low', 'middle' and 'high'. Their association with CVE was explored using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS: With 20.2 months (average) follow-up, 44 (3%) were lost to follow-up and 96 patients developed CVE. Compared with the patients without CVE, the ones who developed CVE had higher levels of fibrinogen. Univariable regression revealed a significant relation of fibrinogen to CVE (HR (HR) 1.25, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.47, p=0.010) per SD increase of fibrinogen at baseline. After adjusting for multiple established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, the association persisted (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.66, p=0.037). Moreover, after adjusting for CVD risk factors, the HRs for middle-serum and high-serum fibrinogen concentration, using 'low' group as reference, were 1.23 (95% CI 0.69 to 2.20) and 2.20 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.36, p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS: We first indicated that elevated fibrinogen level was independently associated with increased CVE in Chinese patients with T2DMand stable CAD.