Summary
Objective. The aim of this study is to review the latest literature and guidelines for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes.
Methods. Systematic searches were conducted in the database of PubMed and the specialized information search system Google Scholar. Various guidelines have been used to conduct the research, including: the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology, the guidelines of The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association.
Results. Diabetes is a widespread condition that is affecting an increasing number of people each year. Patients with diabetes often have a shorter life expectancy because of their cardiovascular condition. The excess risk of cardiovascular events with diabetes mellitus is in women and in patients who got ill at younger ages. It is critical to appropriately identify the risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetic individuals in order to prevent early death. The risk assessment criteria established in the European Society of Cardiology’s most recent guidelines distinguish between cardiovascular risk groups even more precisely than before, and propose using risk scores to analyze risk and benefit estimation of risk factor treatment.
Test that are used in clinical practice to determine the risk category for cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic patients with diabetes currently have limited value. Biomarkers have a limited function in the evaluation, hence a sample test for urine albumin is indicated. In diabetic individuals with hypertension or suspected cardiac disease, a resting ECG is beneficial. Echocardiography remains the primary method for diagnosing structural and functional heart problems caused by diabetes. Coronary artery calcium score correlate with higher relative risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Other more advanced imaging modalities are still not widely available, and while they offer benefits, they are currently difficult to apply to the testing of asymptomatic patients.
