Cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes mellitus in Spain according to the Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP) in 2017.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. The objective of this work is to know the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and heart failure in people diagnosed with diabetes in Spain during 2017 and compare them with those not diagnosed with diabetes according to age and sex.

METHODS: Data for diagnoses of diabetes mellitus (DM), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, peripheral artery disease (PAD) or heart failure (HF) for 2017 were obtained from the National Health System's Primary Care Clinical Database (BDCAP).

RESULTS: Comparing people with diabetes and people without diabetes over 35 years of age, the Odds Ratio (OR) for being diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease or heart failure is about 2 in those over 64 years of age and more than 4 in patients under that age. This OR is superior in females versus males for all diagnoses apart from peripheral artery disease.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the high cardiovascular comorbidity of patients with diabetes in Spain, with a greater excess of risk in patients under 65 years of age, more pronounced in women. We should offer more intensive treatment for DM2 in women.