Maria E Marketou1, Charalambos Vlachopoulos2, George Hahalis3, Kristalenia Kafkala4, Nikolaos Kouvelas5, Ioannis Mantas6, Antonios Sideris7, Evaggelos Pisimisis8, Emmanouel P Vardas9, Stylianos Tzeis10, Panos E Vardas10. 1. Cardiology Dpt., Heraklion University Hospital, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: maryemarke@yahoo.gr. 2. 1(st) Cardiology Clinic, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 3. Cardiology Dpt., Patras University School of Medicine, Patras, Greece. 4. Cardiology Dpt., Chania General Hospital, Chania, Greece. 5. Cardiology Dpt., Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 6. Cardiology Dpt., Chalkida General Hospital, Chalkida, Greece. 7. Second State Department of Cardiology, "Evangelismos" Hospital, Athens, Greece. 8. Cardiology Dpt,. Tzanio State Hospital, Piraeus, Greece. 9. Cardiology Dpt, Georgios Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece. 10. Cardiology Dpt., Mitera Hospital, Hygeia Group, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a high-risk population, where comorbidities are common and the progression of coronary heart disease is relatively rapid and extensive. The present survey, conducted nationwide in a Eurozone country, Greece, with a properly organized national health system, aimed to record specific data from a significant number of patients with diabetes and documented stable CAD (SCAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted our survey across the country, in private and public primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers. A total of 1900 patients aged 71 ± 10 years old who suffered from both DM and chronic coronary syndromes were registered. Of the patients registered, 574 (30.24%) were women. It was found that 506 (26.6%) of the 1900 surveyed patients showed typical angina symptoms, while another 560 (29.5%) patients had developed angina-equivalent symptoms according to their history. Additionally, 324 (17%) patients had atypical symptoms that could not easily be attributed to existing CAD and the remaining 510 (26.8%) of the 1900 patients did not exhibit any angina symptoms during their daily activities. Functional testing for myocardial ischemia was not performed in 833 patients (43.8%). Myocardial scintigraphy was the most commonly used noninvasive technique (644 patients, 34%), while 492 patients (25.9%) had an exercise test and 159 (8.4%) underwent stress echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Real-world data in this specific high-risk population of diabetic patients with SCAD offer the opportunity to identify and improve diagnostic and therapeutic practice in the healthcare system of a European Union country.
BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a high-risk population, where comorbidities are common and the progression of coronary heart disease is relatively rapid and extensive. The present survey, conducted nationwide in a Eurozone country, Greece, with a properly organized national health system, aimed to record specific data from a significant number of patients with diabetes and documented stable CAD (SCAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted our survey across the country, in private and public primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers. A total of 1900 patients aged 71 ± 10 years old who suffered from both DM and chronic coronary syndromes were registered. Of the patients registered, 574 (30.24%) were women. It was found that 506 (26.6%) of the 1900 surveyed patients showed typical angina symptoms, while another 560 (29.5%) patients had developed angina-equivalent symptoms according to their history. Additionally, 324 (17%) patients had atypical symptoms that could not easily be attributed to existing CAD and the remaining 510 (26.8%) of the 1900 patients did not exhibit any angina symptoms during their daily activities. Functional testing for myocardial ischemia was not performed in 833 patients (43.8%). Myocardial scintigraphy was the most commonly used noninvasive technique (644 patients, 34%), while 492 patients (25.9%) had an exercise test and 159 (8.4%) underwent stress echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Real-world data in this specific high-risk population of diabetic patients with SCAD offer the opportunity to identify and improve diagnostic and therapeutic practice in the healthcare system of a European Union country.
Authors: Angela Lowenstern; Karen P Alexander; Neha J Pagidipati; C Larry Hill; Patricia A Pellikka; Lawton S Cooper; Brooke Alhanti; Udo Hoffmann; Daniel B Mark; Pamela S Douglas Journal: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes Date: 2022-04-04