Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes

Abstract

The most common cause of death among adults with diabetes is cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this concise review on pathogenesis of CVD in diabetes, the 4 common conditions, atherosclerosis, microangiopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy, are explored and illustrated to be caused by interrelated pathogenetic factors. Each of these diagnoses can present alone or, commonly, along with others due to overlapping pathophysiology. Although the spectrum of physiologic abnormalities that characterize the diabetes milieu is broad and go beyond hyperglycemia, the authors highlight the most relevant evidence supporting the current knowledge of potent factors that contribute to CVD in diabetes.

Keywords: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy; Coronary flow reserve; Diabetic cardiomyopathy; Diabetic heart disease; Microangiopathy.