Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes

Abstract Background Vascular endothelial impairment is crucial in diabetes and its cardiovascular complications, but clinically applicable endothelial function markers remain limited. We investigated the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), a novel biomarker calculated from lactate dehyd...

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Main Authors: Enfa Zhao, Yiqing Chen, Hang Xie, Ruimeng Wang, Yuan Gao, Bingtian Dong, Chaoxue Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-03009-0
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author Enfa Zhao
Yiqing Chen
Hang Xie
Ruimeng Wang
Yuan Gao
Bingtian Dong
Chaoxue Zhang
author_facet Enfa Zhao
Yiqing Chen
Hang Xie
Ruimeng Wang
Yuan Gao
Bingtian Dong
Chaoxue Zhang
author_sort Enfa Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Vascular endothelial impairment is crucial in diabetes and its cardiovascular complications, but clinically applicable endothelial function markers remain limited. We investigated the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), a novel biomarker calculated from lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and platelet count, for predicting mortality in diabetes and prediabetes populations. Methods The study analyzed data from 20,285 participants with diabetes or prediabetes enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Mortality outcomes were tracked through the National Death Index until December 2019. EASIX was calculated as: lactate dehydrogenase (U/L) × creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (109/L). We employed multiple statistical approaches, including Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic spline analysis, and stratified analysis to examine the relationship between EASIX and mortality outcomes. Results During a median follow-up of 90.2 months, 3,432 deaths occurred, including 1,128 cardiovascular-related deaths. Higher EASIX values were significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (P for trend < 0.0001). In the fully adjusted model, the highest EASIX quartile (Q4) demonstrated significantly higher risks as compared to the lowest quartile (Q1): all-cause mortality (HR: 1.50, 95% CI 1.33–1.69) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.38–2.14). Nonlinear relationships were observed between EASIX and mortality outcomes (P for nonlinearity < 0.001). While EASIX predicted outcomes in both populations, diabetic patients showed a more pronounced effect. Subgroup analyses revealed more significant associations in females (HR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.28–1.44) compared to males (HR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.22), and the association was modified by hypertension status (P for interaction = 0.002). Conclusion EASIX emerges as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetes and prediabetes patients. Its accessibility makes it a practical tool for identifying patients requiring intensive monitoring and intervention. The stronger associations in specific subgroups, particularly among diabetic patients and females, underscore the need for targeted approaches.
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spelling doaj-art-e7b9d25b0bcb450f982ea1d90a79e8d32025-08-20T03:42:27ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-08-0130111210.1186/s40001-025-03009-0Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetesEnfa Zhao0Yiqing Chen1Hang Xie2Ruimeng Wang3Yuan Gao4Bingtian Dong5Chaoxue Zhang6Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversitySecond Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract Background Vascular endothelial impairment is crucial in diabetes and its cardiovascular complications, but clinically applicable endothelial function markers remain limited. We investigated the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), a novel biomarker calculated from lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and platelet count, for predicting mortality in diabetes and prediabetes populations. Methods The study analyzed data from 20,285 participants with diabetes or prediabetes enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Mortality outcomes were tracked through the National Death Index until December 2019. EASIX was calculated as: lactate dehydrogenase (U/L) × creatinine (mg/dL)/platelet count (109/L). We employed multiple statistical approaches, including Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic spline analysis, and stratified analysis to examine the relationship between EASIX and mortality outcomes. Results During a median follow-up of 90.2 months, 3,432 deaths occurred, including 1,128 cardiovascular-related deaths. Higher EASIX values were significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (P for trend < 0.0001). In the fully adjusted model, the highest EASIX quartile (Q4) demonstrated significantly higher risks as compared to the lowest quartile (Q1): all-cause mortality (HR: 1.50, 95% CI 1.33–1.69) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.38–2.14). Nonlinear relationships were observed between EASIX and mortality outcomes (P for nonlinearity < 0.001). While EASIX predicted outcomes in both populations, diabetic patients showed a more pronounced effect. Subgroup analyses revealed more significant associations in females (HR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.28–1.44) compared to males (HR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.22), and the association was modified by hypertension status (P for interaction = 0.002). Conclusion EASIX emerges as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetes and prediabetes patients. Its accessibility makes it a practical tool for identifying patients requiring intensive monitoring and intervention. The stronger associations in specific subgroups, particularly among diabetic patients and females, underscore the need for targeted approaches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-03009-0Endothelial Activation and Stress IndexAll-cause mortalityCardiovascular mortalityDiabetesPrediabetes
spellingShingle Enfa Zhao
Yiqing Chen
Hang Xie
Ruimeng Wang
Yuan Gao
Bingtian Dong
Chaoxue Zhang
Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
European Journal of Medical Research
Endothelial Activation and Stress Index
All-cause mortality
Cardiovascular mortality
Diabetes
Prediabetes
title Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
title_full Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
title_fullStr Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
title_full_unstemmed Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
title_short Association between the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
title_sort association between the endothelial activation and stress index easix and all cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes and prediabetes
topic Endothelial Activation and Stress Index
All-cause mortality
Cardiovascular mortality
Diabetes
Prediabetes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-03009-0
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