title: Prevalence of aspirin resistance in diabetic patients and its associated factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspirin resistance has posed a major dilemma in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke. There have been many factors that have been associated with aspirin resistance. Among these factors, the inflammatory processes of diabetes and glycaemic control have been significantly associated with aspirin resistance. Our study evaluated the prevalence of aspirin resistance and its associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, interventional study, which was implemented from October to November 2012 at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). Sixty-nine patients with diabetes who were taking aspirin were enrolled. The glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in these patients. The thromboelastography (TEG) level was measured using a TEG machine by a trained technician employing standard methods. The variables obtained were analysed for prevalence of aspirin resistance, HbA1c, CRP, and TEG level. The Chi-square test (and Fisher exact test where applicable) were used to evaluate the associations between aspirin resistance with glycaemic control (HbA1c) and inflammatory markers (CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of aspirin resistance was 17.4% (95%; CI 9.3, 28.4). Glycaemic control (HbA1c) and inflammatory markers (CRP) were not associated with aspirin resistance. Aspirin resistance was prevalent in our study population and was comparable to other studies. The mean HbA1c in the aspirin-resistant group was 8.9%, whereas the mean HbA1c in the aspirin-sensitive group was 8.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in HbA1c between the two groups. There was no significant association between CRP levels and aspirin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Halwani
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Habizal
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sanihah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdul Halim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Mohamed
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wan Bebakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Center for Neuroscience Services and Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jafri Malin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abdullah
keywords: aspirin resistance; diabetes mellitus; thromboelastography