18 Sept 2025 • In a nationwide study of 24,284 patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO), diabetes mellitus (DM) was a strong predictor of long-term mortality, raising risk by 31% (HR 1.31), with insulin use further increasing hazard by 52% (HR 1.52).

Body mass index (BMI) showed a U-shaped association with survival: underweight patients had the poorest outcomes (HR 1.61), while overweight (HR 0.70) and obese (HR 0.74) individuals had better survival than normal-weight peers.

Risk was lowest near a BMI of 32 kg/m² and rose sharply below 23 kg/m², underscoring the dual prognostic impact of DM and nutritional status in CTO management.

Source: BMJ Journals | Read Full Story