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Wiley InterScience | ||
  Journal of General Internal MedicineVolume 21 Issue 4, Pages 315 - 319 Published Online: 12 Apr 2006 © 2006 by the Society of General Internal Medicine. All rights reserved
Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 91K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking  Indications for and Utilization of ACE Inhibitors in Older Individuals with Diabetes Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2002 Copyright © 2006 by the Society of General Internal Medicine. All rights reserved KEYWORDS diabetes • ACE inhibitors • angiotensin receptor blockers • secondary prevention • renal disease • cardiovascular disease • quality of care • performance measures ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) improve cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk individuals with diabetes. Despite the marked benefit, it is unknown what percentage of patients with diabetes would benefit from and what percentage actually receive this preventive therapy. OBJECTIVES: To examine the proportion of older diabetic patients with indications for ACE or ARB (ACE/ARB). To generate national estimates of ACE/ARB use. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey of 742 individuals≥55 years (representing 8.02 million U.S. adults) self-reporting diabetes in the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence of guideline indications (albuminuria, cardiovascular disease, hypertension) and other cardiac risk factors (hyperlipidemia, smoking) with potential benefit from ACE/ARB. Prevalence of ACE/ARB use overall and by clinical indication. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent had guideline indications for ACE/ARB. Including additional cardiac risk factors, the entire (100%) U.S. noninstitutionalized older population with diabetes had indications for ACE/ARB. Overall, 43% of the population received ACE/ARB. Hypertension was associated with higher rates of ACE/ARB use, while albuminuria and cardiovascular disease were not. As the number of indications increased, rates of use increased, however, the maximum prevalence of use was only 53% in individuals with 4 or more indications for ACE/ARB. CONCLUSIONS: ACE/ARB is indicated in virtually all older individuals with diabetes; yet, national rates of use are disturbingly low and key risk factors (albuminuria and cardiovascular disease) are being missed. To improve quality of diabetes care nationally, use of ACE/ARB therapy by ALL older diabetics may be a desirable addition to diabetes performance measurement sets. Manuscript received July 5, 2005 |  |
