Severe Hypoglycemia Is Associated with Excess Risk for CVD in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Severe hypoglycemia raises blood catecholamine levels, induces inflammation, and alters endothelial function, all of which have the potential to trigger adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. However, whether severe hypoglycemia is associated with excess risk for CV disease (CVD) is unclear. In this meta-analysis of six observational studies, investigators evaluated the association between severe hypoglycemia and risk for CVD (e.g., CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, unstable angina) in >900,000 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age range, 60–67; mean diabetes duration, 3.2–11.5 years).

During follow-up ranging from 1.0 to 5.6 years, 0.6% to 5.8% of participants experienced severe hypoglycemia (e.g., hypoglycemia that …