Diabetes mellitus in clinical cardiology in Spain.: Survey by the working group on the heart and diabetes regarding the importance of diabetes mellitus in relation with other cardiovascular diseases

Introduction and objectives. Diabetes mellitus has been defined as a cardiovascular disease of metabolic origin. This article reports the results of a survey of cardiologists regarding their knowledge about this disease and their management of patients with diabetes in daily practice. Methods. A survey was mailed to all 1840 cardiologists who were members of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, and responses were returned by 348 (18.9%). The survey consisted of 16 questions dealing with organizational and practical aspects of cardiological management for patients with diabetes. Results. The creation of a Working Group on the Heart and Diabetes was judged necessary by 90.2% of the responders. Almost two thirds of the members felt their knowledge of diabetes and its treatment was inadequate, and 82.5% declared that cardiologists should be better able to treat patients with diabetes, since between 15% and 30% of the patients they see have this disease. With respect to secondary prevention, 65.8% of the cardiologists felt that medical care is much better for coronary patients than for patients with diabetes. Among the latter, angiotensin-inhibiting drugs, statins and aspirin are used for secondary prevention. Conclusions. Because of gaps in the cardiologist's knowledge of how to manage diabetes, the high prevalence of diabetes and its unquestionable impact on the cardiovascular system additional clinical training and educational efforts are needed. One potentially useful measure is the creation of a specific Working Group on the Heart and Diabetes.