Blood adiponectin levels are not associated with risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes

Introduction: We examined whether circulating adiponectin levels are associated with further cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Between December 2004 and February 2005, 349 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled and followed-up until December 2015. Blood levels of total, middle-molecular weight and high-molecular weight adiponectin were measured at baseline. The primary composite outcome was the occurrence of the following events: cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke or hospitalization for unstable angina and heart failure. Results: During a median follow-up of 9 years, cardiovascular events occurred in 14% of patients (50/349, 1.9% per year). Median blood levels of total, middle-molecular weight and high-molecular weight adiponectin were 4.8, 3.2 and 1.8 mu g/mL, respectively. The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events was not significantly different between the three groups based on total, middle-molecular weight, high-molecular weight or high-molecular weight/total adiponectin. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, blood adiponectin levels were positively associated with an increased number of cardiovascular events, but between tertiles, there was no significant difference. Conclusion: This observational cohort study suggested that blood adiponectin levels are not related to further cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.