9 out of 10 patients with type 2 diabetes does not associate their disease to cardiovascular risk

The concern among patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) for developing a cardiovascular event increases by 10% compared to 2016, although almost 86% of them do not associate their disease with cardiovascular problems.This is one of the main conclusions extracted from the 2nd “Survey beliefs and attitudes about diabetes”, made by the Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly alliance in diabetes.

The objective of the survey beliefs and attitudes about diabetes, which presented the results of the first wave in 2017, is to analyze the perception of diabetes 2 by the population, and specifically patients, to highlight ignoranceand the lack of awareness of the high cardiovascular risk associated with this disease.

Although patients are worriedrenal failure.

Although patients surveyed do not associate it clearly, people with type 2 diabetes have between 2 and 4 times more possibilities of suffering from cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes1.In addition, between 50% and 80% of the deaths of people with type 2 diabetes worldwide are due to cardiovascular diseases, mainly heart disease and cerebral vascular accident2,3.

For Dr. Ángel Cequieaware of the disease and its consequences.Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death in these patients and, in this sense, professionals have a great responsibility to convey the seriousness of the disease and how it is impacting their cardiovascular system over the years. ”

a serious and little known disease that affects 1 in 11 adults in the world

The patients surveyed consider their disease as serious and claim to be aware that it is widespread and associated with sedentary lifestyle.Overweight, high blood pressure and cholesterol are the best known daily diseases, both by the general population and by patients with DM2, with type 2 diabetes being one of the least known among the general population -only 26.2%claims to know her.

Type 2 diabetes currently affects 1 in 11 adults worldwide -to approximately 463 million people, and it is expected to increase up to 700 million in 2045, assuming a global increase of 51%4.Hence the need to inform and raise awareness of citizens about the disease, their relationship with cardiovascular risk and their prevention.

According to Dr. José Antonio Saz member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Diabetes Federation and President of the Aragon Diabetes Federation “there is great ignorance about the cardiovascular risks that diabetes supposes, surely because from the health environment the professionals are professionalsHe has insisted much more on another series of chronic complications derived from diabetes such as eye or renal problems and not so much in cardiovascular risk, inherent in bad glucose control and also the evolution of diabetes.It is important that both from the health environment and from the patient associations of cardiovascular risk reports that pursued diabetes, promoting awareness campaigns so that this information can reach the patient directly. ”

9 out of 10 patients have incorporatedhealthy life habits

The survey also reveals that a significant increase has been detected with respect to the 1st wave of the number of people who have incorporated healthy living habits -around 9 out of 10 patients and 7 out of 10 people without diabetes surveyed -, being healthy eatingThe routine most incorporated by the majority -82% of the patients surveyed and 80% of the general population -and observing an increase of 15% compared to 2016.

On the other hand, the survey shows that both patients and general population surveyed suspend when performing physical exercise.Less than half of the patients surveyed - a 48.8% - claims to have incorporated physical exercise as a control measure for diabetes.At the same time, only 41% of the general population surveyed claim to do physical exercise as a prevention measure.Food and physical exercise practice help maintain DM2 under control and avoid the appearance of heart problems5.In Spain there are more than 3 million patients diagnosed with DM2, a figure that is increasing despite the fact that up to 80% of cases could be prevented by adopting healthy life habits5.

The diabetes campaign for your heart, promoted by the Alliance for Boehringer Ingelheim Spain and Lilly diabetes is aimed, as well as warn about cardiovascular problems associated with this pathology.

type 2 diabetes and distrust

People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are considered risk groups by being more vulnerable in case of contagion by Coronavirus, since complications derived from infection can be more serious than in the rest of the population.As indicated by Dr. Antonio Pérez, president of the Spanish Diabetes Society, "when people with diabetes develop viral infection can be more difficult to treat due to fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Bad control andPresence of diabetes complications, such as cardiovascular, increase the seriousness of the infection. ”With diabetes "Extreme infection prevention precautions, maintain adherence to diabetes treatment and glycemia monitoring and body weight, and if possible recover medical visits and scheduled explorations not made during the confinement period".

In this sense, and according to the survey, patients continue to highlight the primary care doctor as a key figure in the control of the DM2 and, differentially with the 1st wave of the study, significantly increases the role of friends and family as key figuresin the performance of activities for disease control.

In addition, in line with the previous wave, almost 15% of patients with DM2 claim to have been informed by a health specialist on patient associations, but only 2% belong to one of them.Patients informed by these associations affirm that the preferred services are related to sensitization and resources contribution campaigns.

on the survey beliefs and attitudes about diabetes (2nd wave)

For the study, 2,408 interviews over 45 years not diagnosed with DM2 and 404 over 45 years diagnosed with the disease have been conducted.70% of the interviews between the general population has been carried out online (people between 45 and 64 years old) and the remaining 30%through phone calls (65 years or more).In patients with DM2 a hybrid methodology has been used, combining online and telephone interviews.The sample error is ± 2.00% in the first group and ± 4.88% in the second.

The field work was carried out from May 20 to July 5, 2019 and the sample design is representative of the population by gender, sections of age and geographical zone (according to the National Institute of Statistics).You can consult the main results of the 2nd Survey beliefs and attitudes about diabetes in this link.

references
1 Collaboration Erf, Sarwar N, Gao P, Seshasai SR, Gobin R, et al.Diabetes Mellitus, Fasting Blood Glucose Concentration, and Risk of Vascular Disease: a Collaborative Meta-Analysis of 102 Prospective Studies.Lancet2010, 375: 2215-2222.

6 Survey beliefs and attitudes about diabetes.Alliance for Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly diabetes.

Source: HK Strategies