Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
A cardiovascular (CV) event refers to an event that causes damage to the heart muscle. This includes any interruption to the blood supply to the heart (such as a blockage of the coronary artery) . People with diabetes are at an high risk of a CV event and it is therefore very important to take steps to prevent them from occurring. This need is highlighted further by the failure of intensive changes to lifestyle and of most oral glucose (blood sugar) lowering treatments (except metformin and recently, Empagliflozin) to reduce CV events. On top of obvious signs of heart disease, a major problem in diabetes is the high number of people with silent but potentially lethal heart disease, i.e. silent ischaemia (inadequate blood supply to the heart but without symptoms), left ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement of the left ventricle of the heart – the part of the heart that pumps blood around the body), left ventricular systolic dysfunction (where the left ventricle does not contract properly), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (where the left ventricle does not relax normally to let the heart fill with blood before it is pumped around the body) and left atrial enlargement (enlargement of a part of the heart containing blood from the lungs). The purpose of this study is to see how many people with asymptomatic type 2 diabetes (that is, without any symptoms) have multiple silent cardiac abnormalities and whether are there biomarkers (something that can be measured, for example, in the blood) which can identify these silent abnormalities early.
Who can participate?
Patients with type 2 diabetes aged 40 to 85 with no previous known cardiovascular symptoms or events, well controlled blood pressure, well controlled diabetes, no kidney problems and no significant heart disease.
What does the study involve?
After fasting beforehand, blood tests are taken from each participant. They then have a ultrasound scan of their heart (Echo) followed by Dobutamine stress Echo (DSE), a test to assess the hearts function and structures. Should the DSE be contraindicated (that is, if there is any reason why it should not be performed on a patient) or if no conclusions can be drawn from the results, participants have either Myocardial Perfusion Scan (MPS), a procedure where tissues are examined with the help of a tiny amount of radioactive substance or Computed Tomography Coronary Angiogram (CTCA), a technique for looking at the coronary arteries. 24 hour blood pressure data is also collected. This data is then used to identify participants with silent heart disease and how accurately biomarkers such as High-sensitive troponin T and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide can detect this disease.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If data from this study suggests that there are specific tests and markers that may predict heart disease in type 2 diabetes patients who have no symptoms, they can then be given medication to prevent them from developing life threatening events arising from the heart, if this is appropriate. Possible major complications with DSE are heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm and allergic reactions, but these are rare. Minor complications with DSE include palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and flushing. Participants will receive betablockers to slow down their heart rate for CTCA. The lifetime risk of developing cancer due to this scan would be approximately 1 in 1400 people but this is much smaller than the lifetime risk of developing cancer in the UK, which is 4 in 10 people. On rare occasions, for example if participants have faster heart rate despite betablockers, a slightly larger amount of radiation may be used. There is also a small risk of developing a reaction to the contrast agent. Participants will receive Dipyridamole if necessary for MPS. The lifetime risk of developing cancer due to MPS is approximately 1 in 1700 people. This is much smaller than the lifetime risk of developing cancer in the UK, which is 4 in 10 people. Dipyridamole medicine is safe and tolerable. Some may experience minor side effects such as dizziness, headache, nausea and chest discomfort. These symptoms usually last only a few minutes.
Where is the study run from?
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2015 to August 2017.
Who is funding the study?
Chief Scientist Office, Scotland (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr. Vun Heng Chong
Dr Vun Heng Chong
University of Dundee
Division of Cardiovascular & Diabetes Medicine
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
+44(0)138 238 3346
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for personalised primary prevention in diabetes: a cross-sectional observational study
The primary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events needs to improve because diabetic patients have such a high CV event rate. This need is underscored further by the failure of intensive lifestyle intervention and of most oral glucose lowering agents (except metformin and recently, empagliflozin) to reduce CV events. On top of overt heart disease, a major problem in diabetes is the high incidence of silent but potentially lethal heart disease, i.e. silent ischaemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and left atrial enlargement. The purpose of this study is to assess how many people with asymptomatic type 2 diabetes have multiple silent cardiac abnormalities and is there a biomarker(s) which can early identify these silent abnormalities.
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service, 07/04/2015, ref: 15/ES/0042
Single-centre cross-sectional observational study
Primary study design
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a participant information sheet
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
All patients will undergo a blood test followed by a detailed Echo to assess for left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, left atrial size and left ventricular size. Dobutamine stress Echo (DSE) will be performed to assess for evidence of inducible myocardial ischaemia. In patients whose DSE is inconclusive or DSE is contraindicated, they would then undergo myocardial perfusion scan or CT coronary angiogram. 24 hour blood pressure date will be collected too.
Primary outcome measures
Prevalence of silent heart disease in asymptomatic patients with well-controlled diabetes, assessed with Echo (for left ventricular systolic function, left ventricular diastolic function, left ventricular size, left atrial size) and Dobutamine stress Echo (for inducible ischaemia). This is assessed during participant’s single visit to study centre.
Secondary outcome measures
Accuracy of BNP ± hsTNT as a screening tool for the aforementioned silent heart disease, by assessing correlation of these biomarkers separately and in combination with the silent heart disease. This is further compared with other potential biomarkers in identification of silent heart disease, e.g. uric acid, hs-CRP, neutrophil to lymphocyte count. This is assessed at the end of study, i.e. 18-24 months after commencement of study.
Overall trial start date
Overall trial end date
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 40-85 years
2. Type 2 diabetes with no previous known cardiovascular symptoms or events
3. Clinic blood pressure (BP) or average 24hour BP ≤140/80mmHg
4. HbA1c value <64 mmol/mol
Target number of participants
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Clinic BP and average 24hour BP ≥140/80mmHg
2. Renal impairment (eGFR <60)
3. Atrial fibrillation
4. Significant (defined as more than mild) valvular heart disease either on auscultation or echocardiography
5. Pregnant type 2 diabetics
6. Unable to consent
Recruitment start date
Recruitment end date
Countries of recruitment
Trial participating centre
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
University of Dundee Division of Cardiovascular & Diabetes Medicine Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
University of Dundee & NHS Tayside
Tayside Medical Sciences Manager
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
TASC Research & Development Office
George Pirrie Way
+44(0) 138 238 3890
Chief Scientist Office
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We are intending to publish our study data: Prevalence of silent heart disease in asymptomatic patients with well-controlled diabetes and correlation of BNP ± hsTNT with these silent heart disease.
Intention to publish date is tentatively around August 2017.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Stored in repository
Results - basic reporting