title: Use of cardiovascular medicines in newly treated type 2 diabetes patients: A retrospective cohort study in general practice.
abstract: To describe the drug utilisation patterns of aspirin, antihypertensives, vasodilators, and statins in a cohort of newly treated type 2 diabetes subjects previously unexposed to CVD agents.
  
  
  
  A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using a national pharmacy claims database of newly treated type 2 diabetes subjects aged 40 years or older. Data on the use of aspirin, antihypertensives, vasodilators, and statins 1 year after antidiabetic agent initiation were analysed. Poisson regression with a robust error variance was used to estimate adjusted relative risk (RRadj) and 95% CIs between socio-demographic and treatment factors on CVD agent use.
  
  
  
  Over a 2-year period (2008-2009), 6093 subjects were identified. One year after antidiabetic agent initiation, 82% of the study population received at least one CVD agent, with 54% receiving aspirin, 64% receiving antihypertensives, 6% vasodilators, and 62% receiving statins. Subjects aged 40-49 years were significantly less likely than those aged 60-69 years to receive CVD agents (RRadj 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.87). Over 40% of subjects received antihypertensives without aspirin and statins, while 30% of subjects on statins did not receive aspirin.
  
  
  
  Substantial CVD agent utilisation was noted 1 year after antidiabetic agent initiation. Being aged younger than 60-69 years was associated with decreased utilisation of CVD agents.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: grimesrt@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Ronan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ensor
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Henman
mesh_terms: D000067575:Administrative Claims, Healthcare; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Drug utilisation; Ireland; Type 2 diabetes mellitus