Pattern of glycemic, lipid and blood pressure control among a cohort of diabetic patients pattern of glycemic, lipid and blood pressure control among a cohort of diabetic patients with evidence of coronary artery disease

Abstract EN

Objective : To identify the pattern of glycemic, lipid and blood pressure control among a cohort of diabetic patients referred to Queen Alia Heart Institute for further evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Methods : This is a descriptive study conducted at Queen Alia Heart Institute between 1 / 12 / 2004 and 1 / 9 / 2005.

All newly referred diabetic patients (N = 112) to Monday official referral clinic at the centre during this period were enrolled.

A specially designed record form was completed including demographics, risk factors for coronary artery disease, medications, diabetes care giver name and the type of culprit cardiovascular event.

Blood pressure was measured, and fasting lipid panel, blood sugar, and HbA1c were drawn.

Results : Only about one fourth of the study population had optimal glycemic and blood pressure control.

Optimal body mass index was present in only 13.9% of patients (lower in females 7.5%).

Smoking was prevalent in our study population (41.1%).

Optimal low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels were obtained only in 33%, 22% and 34% of patients, respectively.

Usage of recommended medications for secondary prevention was relatively low : aspirin (52.7%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (55.4%), beta blockers (59.8%) and HMG-coA reductase inhibitors (statins) (79.5%).

Over half of the patients (51%) could not name their diabetes care-giver.

Conclusion : Diabetic patients referred to Queen Alia Heart Institute for further evaluation of coronary artery disease have poor glycemic, blood pressure and lipid control prior to their referral.

More emphasis on these issues at the level of primary as well as secondary health care levels is imperative to delay the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce adverse cardiovascular events in these patients.