Risk factors and medication in patients after heart attack

The Alpha Omega Trial included 1,014 patients who have had a heart attack and also had diabetes and 3,823 patients without diabetes. Diabetic patients had a different risk factor profile than those without diabetes. They were more obese, had higher blood pressure, higher triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol levels. Their risk factor profile was worse, despite the fact that both diabetic and non-diabetic patients recieved similar medication.

What does this mean?

Having diabetes increases the risk to develop future cardiovascular diseases. Therefore guidelines recommend that patients with diabetes should be treated more aggressively. Also more attention is needed for diet and lifestyle interventions to reach target levels for blood pressure and lipids.

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