Control of cardiovascular risk factors and use of aspirin in diabetic patients remain elusive.
OBJECTIVE
Type 2 diabetics are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. To reduce this risk, the American Diabetes Association recommends traditional cardiovascular disease risk factor modification, reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and the use of aspirin for patients over 30 years of age. The goal of this study was to analyze how well these goals were achieved in type 2 diabetics.


METHODS
Patients with type 2 diabetes from July 2004 to June 2005 were included. Data were collected on demographics, preexisting coronary artery disease (CAD), blood pressure control, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and microalbuminuria.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-nine patients were included (18% had CAD). Blood pressure was controlled in 46.04% of patients; 41.72% reached target HbA1c; 47.48% reached target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and 43.88% had microalbuminuria. No significant difference was noted between diabetics with or without CAD. Aspirin was used in 64% of patients with CAD and in 28.15% patients without CAD.


CONCLUSIONS
Optimal cardiovascular risk modification was achieved in less than 50% of type 2 diabetics. Aspirin remains underused for primary prevention. These results highlight the continued difficulties in achieving control of diabetes to the extent recommended by American Diabetes Association guidelines.
Shrivastava
Rakesh
R
Department of Medicine, Unity Health System, Rochester, NY, USA. rs243@hotmail.com
Khan
Aameera
A
Jeevanantham
Vinodh
V
Nautiyal
Amit
A
Garg
Praveen
P
Reddy
Pratap C
PC
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D006113:United Kingdom
D001241:Aspirin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin