Which drugs benefit diabetic patients for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction? DARTS/MEMO Collaboration.
Diabetic patients have increased mortality following myocardial infarction. We review the evidence for benefit in diabetic patients, of the major drug groups used as secondary prevention. Beta blockers: meta-analyses suggest a reduction in mortality of 35% with beta blockers. Diabetic patients should receive beta blockers post myocardial infarction. In many patients, the benefits of beta blockers will outweigh relative contraindications. Aspirin: meta-analyses of antiplatelet therapy in high-risk subjects have shown substantial benefits. Aspirin should be prescribed for secondary prevention. Lipid lowering with statins: subgroup analyses of the major secondary prevention trials show substantial benefits across a wide range of baseline cholesterol and LDL levels. These drugs should be prescribed as secondary prevention to patients with diabetes whose total cholesterol is > 4.0 mmol(-1). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs): the few subgroup analyses that exist from ACEI trials suggest that diabetic and non-diabetic patients derive similar benefits. Diabetic subjects who have systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction should receive ACEIs. Treatment combination: data exist to suggest that most of these drugs produce benefit independently.


CONCLUSIONS
diabetic patients benefit from secondary prevention with drug treatment as much as, or more than, non-diabetic patients.
MacDonald
T M
TM
Medicines Monitoring Unit, Ninewells Hospital Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Butler
R
R
Newton
R W
RW
Morris
A D
AD
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D019821:Simvastatin; D001241:Aspirin