Paula Xavier Picon

Medida da cintura e razão cintura/quadril e identificação de situações de risco cardiovascular: estudo multicêntrico em pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 2

Abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease. This study aims to compare two measures of abdominal obesity [waist and wais-to-hip ratio (WHR)] in patients with DM2 to identify cardiovascular risk factors: ischemic cardiopathy, hypertension, dislipidemia, obesity and diabetic nephropathy. A multicentric study was performed in 820 patients with type 2 DM. Waist circumference strongly correlated with body mass index (BMI), for men (r= 0.814; P< 0.05) and women (r= 0.770; P< 0.05). On the other hand, WRH was weakly correlated (r= 0.263, P< 0.05 for men; r= 0.092, P< 0.05 for women). Only waist circumference correlated with systolic pressure (r= 0.211, P< 0.05 for men; r= 0,224, P< 0.05 for women). ROC curve analysis demonstrated the superiority of waist circumference measurement compared to WHR regarding obesity and hypertension for men and women, and dyslipidemia for men. In conclusion, waist circumference is better correlated with cardiovascular risk factor than WRH.

Aspirin therapy is still underutilized among patients with type 2 diabetes

The daily use of aspirin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) reduces significantly cardiovascular events (CVE). In the absence of contraindications, American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends the use of aspirin to all DM2 patients older than 40 years of age. To evaluate aspirin use among 636 out patients with DM2 who participate in a regional multicenter study in Southern Brazil, a standard questionnaire was used. Patients also underwent a physical examination and laboratorial tests. All patients were older than 40 years (mean 58 +/- 11 years old; 42% male) and by ADA guidelines most of them should be using aspirin. However, only 177 (27.5%) were on this medication. The use of aspirin was higher when any CVE were present. However, the percentage of users was still below the expected, not even reaching 50%. In conclusion, even though the use of aspirin is greater in patients with CVE, and its benefits are well documented, it is still underutilized. Strategies to enhance the use of aspirin should be developed to reduce the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in patients with DM2.