CAPTURE: A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes in Italy

Abstract

Background and aimsThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Italy is increasing and cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the leading cause of death in this population. CAPTURE was a multinational, multicentre, non-interventional, cross-sectional study assessing the prevalence of CVD, atherosclerotic CVD (AsCVD) and CVD subtypes among patients with T2D, across 13 countries. Here we report the results from Italy. Methods and resultsOverall, 816 patients with T2D (median age, 69 years [interquartile range: 62–75]; median duration of diabetes, 11.2 years [interquartile range: 5.7–18.7]) were recruited during routine clinical visits at secondary care centres in Italy between December 2018–September 2019. The prevalence of CVD was estimated at 38.8%, largely accounted for by AsCVD (33.1%). The most prevalent CVD subtype was coronary heart disease (20.8%), followed by carotid artery disease (13.2%). Most patients (85.9%) were prescribed oral glucose-lowering agents (GLAs), particularly biguanide (76.7%). Insulin use was higher in patients with CVD (41.3%) than in patients without CVD (32.9%). Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) were prescribed to 20.2% vs 14.6%, and 14.5% vs 16.6% of patients with CVD compared to those without CVD, respectively. ConclusionThe results show that, in Italy, more than one in three patients with T2D attending secondary care centres have CVD, 85% of whom have AsCVD, yet only a minority are treated with SGLT2is and GLP-1 RAs, in discordance with the recommendations of current national and international guidelines.