Advantages of Intra-cardiac Polymer Coated Electrodes Leads in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices

Abstract

<jats:p> Diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent worldwide, major health problems. Frequently, diabetic patients may require therapy with implantable intra-cardiac electronic devices. In this article, we analysed the complications related to the presence of polymer-coated electrodes leads occurred among 351 patients, carriers of implantable electronic intra-cardiac devices: permanent pacemakers (PPM), cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). Of all these patients, 99 (28.20%) had type 2 DM (p=0.022), double than the prevalence of DM in the general population (11%). Only two patients with PPM and DM had fractures of electrodes leads and one was diagnosed with right heart infective endocarditis, but no non-diabetic patient developed any complications related to the presence of polymer coated electrodes leads. </jats:p>