The association between glycaemic control, normal weight and long-term macrovascular outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes in China: A retrospective study

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026 Jan;28(1):606-614. doi: 10.1111/dom.70237. Epub 2025 Nov 10.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate associations between glycaemic control and normal body mass index (BMI) and the long-term risk of 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3P-MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials and methods: Adults with T2D and ≥1 glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and BMI record between 1 January 2007 and 31 October 2016 were included from the regional health information system of Yinzhou district, Ningbo, China. The index population comprised patients with HbA1c records ≥3 months after the initial T2D diagnosis and BMI records after the initial T2D diagnosis. Of these, patients with ≥1 BMI record after the index date were included in the sustained population. Analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: The index population included 5757 patients (median follow-up 6.8 years; 1188 [20.6%] experienced 3P-MACE). In this population, the 3P-MACE risk was significantly reduced in patients with glycaemic control and normal BMI (18.5-23.9 kg/m2) versus neither glycaemic control nor normal BMI using HbA1c cutoffs of <7.0% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.73; 95% CI 0.62-0.86; p < 0.001) and ≤6.5% (aHR 0.76; 95% CI 0.64-0.90; p = 0.001). In the sustained population (n = 5513), the risk of 3P-MACE was significantly reduced in patients with sustained glycaemic control and normal BMI versus neither sustained glycaemic control nor normal BMI using HbA1c cutoffs of <7.0% (aHR 0.67; 95% CI 0.49-0.91; p = 0.012) and ≤6.5% (aHR 0.69; 95% CI 0.50-0.94; p = 0.020).

Conclusions: Index and sustained glycaemic control and normal BMI were associated with significant risk reduction in 3P-MACE among Chinese patients with T2D.

Keywords: cardiovascular events; glycaemic control; macrovascular disease; real world study; type 2 diabetes; weight management.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
  • China / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies* / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies* / etiology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Glycemic Control*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Blood Glucose
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human

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