Lee S, Jeevaratnam K, Liu T, et al. - According to this retrospective observational study, HbA1c and lipid variability were found to be predictors of sudden cardiac death (SCD). As a result, in diabetic patients, poor glucose control and fluctuation in lipid markers are related to aborted or actual SCD. Such findings suggest that the degree of glycemic control required for outcome optimization should be reconsidered.

• Participants in the study were insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients [n = 23,329; mean ± SD age: 64 ± 14 years old; 51% male; mean HbA1c 8.6 ± 1.3%] who visited publicly funded clinics and hospitals in Hong Kong between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009.

• HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride fluctuation were discovered to be predictors of SCD in a multivariable analysis.