Abstract 4146727: Intensive lifestyle intervention, cardiac biomarkers and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity – a post-hoc analysis of the Look Action for Health in Diabetes (AHEAD) trial

Introduction: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the association of longitudinal changes in these cardiac biomarkers with ASCVD risk in T2D is not well-established. Furthermore, the effects of an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) targeting weight loss on cardiac biomarkers is not well-characterized. Methods: Participants of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial with T2D and overweight or obesity were included. Hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured at baseline, 1- and 4-year follow-up (Roche Diagnostics). Adjusted Cox models were created to evaluate the associations of baseline, 1-, and 4-year change in cardiac biomarkers with ASCVD risk (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for angina). The effects of the ILI targeting weight loss versus diabetes support and education (DSE) on cardiac biomarker changes were summarized as the geometric mean ratio (GMR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Among 3,984 participants with available cardiac biomarker data, there were 771 ASCVD events (median follow-up: 12 years). Higher hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP at baseline were each significantly associated with higher ASCVD risk ( Figure 1A ). Changes in hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP over 1-year follow-up were not significantly associated with ASCVD risk. However, sustained increases in hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP over 4-year follow-up were each significantly associated with higher ASCVD risk. The ILI versus DSE was significantly associated with lower hs-cTnT at 1- and 4-year follow-up (GMR [95% CI]: 0.96 [0.93-0.99] and 0.94 [0.92-0.97]), respectively) ( Figure 1B ). In contrast, NT-proBNP increased with the ILI (vs. DSE) at 1-year (GMR [95% CI]: 1.11 [1.05-1.17]), but this difference was attenuated and no longer significant at 4-years. Conclusions: Among adults with T2D, sustained increases in hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP over 4-year follow-up were associated with higher ASCVD risk. An ILI targeting weight loss led to a significant reduction in hs-cTnT and transient rise in NT-proBNP that attenuated over time.