Low aspirin use in diabetics.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the percentage of adult diabetics with cardiovascular disease, or risk factors for cardiovascular disease who are using aspirin, and to report on any differences between males and females, or Saudis and non-Saudis.


METHODS
Medical records of diabetics seen at King Abdulaziz University Hospital during the period January 1998 through to December 2000 were analyzed. The following data were collected: patients age, sex, nationality, body mass index, duration of diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking, family history of ischemic heart disease) and aspirin use.


RESULTS
A total of 550 patients were studied with a mean age of 53 years and male: female ratio 1.1:1. Saudis constitute 260/550 (47%) of the study group. In patients with cardiovascular disease 110/174 (63%) were using aspirin versus 64/174 (37%) (p 0.001). In patients with one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease but no cardiovascular disease, aspirin was used in 27/223 (12%) versus 195/223 (88%) (p 0.0001). Aspirin was used by 85/291 (29%) male versus 56/259 (22%) females (p 0.2). Sixty-three of 260 (24%) Saudis used aspirin versus 77/290 (27%) non-Saudis (p 0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Aspirin use is low in diabetics with cardiovascular disease and one or more risk factor of cardiovascular disease, with no significant difference between males and females, or Saudis and non-Saudis. Physicians should be encouraged to use aspirin more in diabetics for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Akbar
Daad H
DH
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, PO Box 18298, Jeddah 21415, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. daadakb@yahoo.com
Ahmed
Maimona M
MM
Siddique
Aisha M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D001241:Aspirin