Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important and common cardiovascular risk factor. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency of use of oral antiplatelet drugs (OAPs) and oral anticoagulant drugs (OACs) among the elderly with T2DM in Poland.
Material and methods: The study was based on the data collected in the Polish national PolSenior study.
Results: Among 4979 PolSenior participants aged 65 and over, 883 (17.8%) had previously diagnosed T2DM. Among them, 441 (49.9%) used at least one drug in pharmacological cardiovascular prevention, i.e. OAPs (mostly ASA) in 405 (45.9%) cases and OACs in 38 (4.3%). The use of these drugs significantly depended on the sex (p = 0.02) and personal income (p = 0.05). Age, place of residence and level of education did not affect the prevalence of pharmacological prevention. Previous stroke and myocardial infarction were mostly associated with OAPs, whereas a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) was related to OAC treatment. Among participants treated with OAPs, therapy was applied as secondary cardiovascular prevention in 211 (52.1%) subjects, and as primary prevention in 194 (47.9%) subjects. Among participants treated with OACs, 24 (64.9%) persons had a history of AF. Secondary cardiovascular pharmacological prevention should be considered in 45 untreated participants (12.5%), and primary cardiovascular pharmacological prevention (SCORE ≥ 10 and/or AF) in 154 participants (42.7%).
Conclusions: Cardiovascular pharmacological prevention in the elderly with T2DM in Poland seems to be unsatisfactory. Educational programmes concerning current recommendations for pharmacological cardiovascular prevention should be developed among general practitioners.