Background: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability may be a predictor of diabetic complications, but the predictive values of HbA1c trajectories remain unclear. We aimed to classify long-term HbA1c trajectories and to explore their effects on future clinical outcomes in a 10-year cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 2,161 participants with T2DM from the Beijing Community Diabetes Study were included. The 10-year follow-up was divided into two stages for the present data analysis. Stage I (from 2008 to 2014) was used to identify the HbA1c trajectories and to calculate the adjusted SD of HbA1c (HbA1c-adjSD), or the coefficient of variation of HbA1c (HbA1c-CV). Stage II (from 2014 to 2018) was used to collect the records of the new occurrence of diabetes-related clinical outcomes. Latent growth mixture models were used to identify HbA1c trajectories. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the relationship between HbA1c trajectories, HbA1c-adjSD, or HbA1c-CV and the future outcomes. Results: Three HbA1c trajectories were identified, including low stable (88.34%), gradual decreasing (5.83%), and pre-stable and post-increase (5.83%). Either the risk of death or the chronic complications were significantly higher in the latter two groups compared to the low stable group after adjustment for average HbA1c and other traditional risk factors, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for renal events, composite endpoint, and all-cause death for the pre-stable and post-increase group were 2.83 [95%CI: 1.25–6.41, p = 0.013], 1.85 (95%CI: 1.10–3.10, p = 0.020), and 3.01 (95%CI: 1.13–8.07, p = 0.028), respectively, and the adjusted HR for renal events for the gradual decreasing group was 2.37 (95%CI: 1.08–5.21, p = 0.032). In addition, both univariate and multivariate Cox HR models indicated that participants in the fourth and third quartiles of HbA1c-CV or HbA1c-adjSD were at higher risk of renal events compared to participants in the first quartile. Conclusions: HbA1c trajectories, HbA1c-CV, and HbA1c-adjSD could all predict diabetes-related clinical outcomes. HbA1c trajectories could reflect long-term blood glucose fluctuation more intuitively, and non-stable HbA1c trajectories may predict increased risk of renal events, all-cause death, and composite endpoint events, independent of average HbA1c.

Obesity increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other metabolic diseases. We intended to compare three different anthropometric indicators of obesity, in predicting the incidence of cardiovascular events in Chinese type 2 diabetes. Beijing Community Diabetes Study was a prospective multi-center study conducted in Beijing community health centers. Type 2 diabetes patients from fourteen community health centers were enrolled at baseline. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular events. The upper quartile of neck circumference (NC) was set as greater NC. A total of 3299 diabetes patients were enrolled. In which, 941 (28.52%) had cardiovascular disease at baseline. Logistic analysis showed that central obesity (waist circumference (WC) above 90 cm in men and 85 cm in women) and greater NC were all related to baseline cardiovascular disease (adjusted OR = 1.49, and 1.55). After 10-year follow-up, 340 (10.31%) had cardiovascular events. Compared with patients without cardiovascular events, those having cardiovascular events had higher BMI, larger WC and NC. Cox regression analysis showed that greater WC and NC were all associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events (adjusted HR = 1.41, and 1.38). A higher NC and WC might increase the risk of cardiovascular events by about 40% in type 2 diabetes patients in Beijing communities.

Objective. To investigate the effect of intensive management and achieving the target control more than 3 times on endpoint events during 9 consecutive years’ annual assessment in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in the Sanlitun Community Health Service Center in Beijing, including blood glucose, blood pressure, lipids profiles, and the joint target control. Methods. In Beijing Community Diabetes Study (BCDS), 224 patients with T2DM from the Sanlitun Community Health Service Center were enrolled in 2008. All patients were randomly assigned to the intensive management group (n = 113) and the standard management group (n = 111). All patients were followed up for nine consecutive years from January 2009 to December 2017. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected as the main indexes, and the endpoint events were also carried out at the same time. The endpoint events were analyzed by using survival analysis (Kaplan–Meier method) based on management grouping and whether achieving the target control more than 3 times or not. Results. During the nine-year follow-up, the abscission number was 35 (14.29%), among which 14 (12.39%) was in the intensive management group and 21 (18.92%) was in the standard management group. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy (6 cases, 5.41%) and diabetic nephropathy (13 cases, 11.71%) in the standard management group was significantly higher than that in the intensive management group (1 case, 0.88%; 5 cases, 4.42%), respectively (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences on the other endpoint events between the two groups (P>0.05). All-cause death was 23 cases, in which patients who achieved the target control (HbA1c and LDL-C) and the joint target control more than 3 times were significantly lower than that of less than 3 times (P<0.05). As far as death caused by cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events, and newly onset coronary heart disease are concerned, there were no significant differences on the aforementioned endpoint events between the two groups based on target control more than 3 times or not (P>0.05). There were less incidence of new onset cerebrovascular events, stenosis or occlusion of large arteries, and diabetic microvascular complications in patients who achieved target control (HbA1c and LDL-C) and the joint target control more than 3 times than those with target control less than 3 times (P<0.05). Conclusions. The intensive management can effectively reduce the occurrence of microvascular complications. The incidence of all-cause death and the other endpoint events decreased in T2DM patients who achieved the joint target control more than 3 times during the nine-year management, which improved survival time and life quality. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-TRC-13003978 and ChiCTR-OOC-15006090.

The effects of AER and eGFR on outcomes of CVD in patients with T2DM in an urban community over 8 years of multifactorial treatment: the Beijing Communities Diabetes Study 18 Xue-Lian Zhang,1 Ming-Xia Yuan,1 Gang Wan,2 Guang-Ran Yang,1 Dong-Mei Li,3 Han-Jing Fu,1 Liang-Xiang Zhu,1 Rong-Rong Xie,1 Jian-Dong Zhang,4 Yu-Jie Lv,5 Yu-Ling Li,6 Xue-Ping Du,7 Zi-Ming Wang,8 Xue-Li Cui,9 De-Yuan Liu,10 Ying Gao,11 Shu-Yan Cheng,12 Qian Wang,13 Yu Ji,14 Guang-Wei Li,15,16 Shen-Yuan Yuan1 1Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical Records and Statistics Department, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical and Translational Science Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; 4Department of General Practice, Jinsong Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of General Practice, Cuigezhuang Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of General Practice, Xinjiekou Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of General Practice, Yuetan Community Health Service Center of Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of General Practice, Jiangtai Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 9Department of General Practice, Sanlitun Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 10Department of General Practice, Zuojiazhuang Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 11Department of General Practice, The First People’s Hospital of Chongwen District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 12Department of General Practice, Balizhuang Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 13Department of General Practice, Majiapu Community Health Service Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 14Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 15Department of Endocrinology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 16Center of Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Endocrinology, National Center of Cardiology and Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China Objective: It is well known that diabetic kidney disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, the effects of urine albumin excretion rate (AER) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on CVD outcomes were analyzed in a population of T2DM. Methods: The study was carried out using recorded information of a cohort study. A total of 1,914 patients with T2DM with no prevalent CVD were enrolled in an 8 years prospective study and received multifactorial intervention. The risk of CVD outcomes was assessed according to chronic kidney disease staging, which was categorized using AER (mg/d) and eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2). The effects of AER and eGFR on risk of CVD onset were also analyzed. Results: During the follow-up period (median 6.8 years), 71 CVD events occurred. At baseline, those with AER ≥300 mg/d and coexisting eGFR 60–89 mL/min/ 1.73 m2 or

Background: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition linked to thyroid dysfunction, which can result in disfigurement and potential vision loss. Recently, immunomodulatory therapies such as rituximab have demonstrated potential benefit in managing TED. However, the optimal dosing and timing of rituximab administration remain uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of early, low‐dose rituximab therapy in patients with mild to moderate TED. Methods: Eight untreated patients with mild to moderate TED were enrolled in the study. Weekly rituximab infusions at a low dose (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks) were administered, followed by a 16‐week follow‐up period. Thyroid function, thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, ophthalmic examinations, and adverse effects were evaluated at each visit. Additionally, orbital MRI, radionuclide orbital imaging, and clinical activity score (CAS) were performed before treatment and at the final follow‐up. Results: The mean follow‐up duration was 16 weeks for the eight patients. Detailed baseline patient characteristics were recorded. CD3–CD20 levels decreased significantly after rituximab treatment, compared to baseline levels. TRAb levels also showed a statistically significant decline during the treatment period compared to the baseline levels ( p = 0.012). The CAS showed a significant decrease from baseline to 16 weeks post‐treatment ( p = 0.027). There were no significant differences in orbital MRI imaging before and after treatment yet. Nuclear medicine orbital imaging assessment indicated an improvement trend in orbital inflammatory activity among patients. Few adverse effects were observed during the therapy. Conclusions: The preliminary exploratory study suggested that the early low‐dose rituximab treatment (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks) may be associated with immunological changes (TRAb reduction, B‐cell depletion) in patients with early progressive, mild‐to‐moderate TED. These hypothesis‐generating findings require validation in randomized, placebo‐controlled trials with adequate sample sizes and longer follow‐up.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been increasingly linked to extragastric conditions. However, the relationship between H. pylori infection and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and 10-year cardiovascular risk. A total of 1,398 subjects who underwent health examinations at Beijing Tongren Hospital were included in this study. H. pylori infection was determined using ¹³C-breath test. The 10-year cardiovascular risk was assessed using the Framingham score. Insulin resistance was evaluated through the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its derivatives. Logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate associations. Individuals with H. pylori infection exhibited significantly higher TyG index and its derivatives (all P < 0.001), indicating increased insulin resistance. All TyG-related indices were strongly correlated with 10-year CVD risk, with TyG-WHR showing the strongest association (R = 0.745, P < 0.001). The estimated 10-year CVD risk was significantly higher in the H. pylori-infected group (P = 0.003). After adjusting for potential confounders, H. pylori infection remained independently associated with high cardiovascular risk (OR = 2.552, 95% CI: 1.312-4.963, P = 0.006). Notably, this association was more pronounced in females, individuals younger than 50 years, non-smokers, non-diabetics, and those without hypertension. H. pylori infection is associated with increased insulin resistance and elevated 10-year cardiovascular risk, particularly among individuals without traditional risk factors. These findings suggest that H. pylori infection may represent a non-traditional contributor to cardiovascular risk and warrants further investigation.