Measurement of platelet function to determine the prevalence of aspirin non-responsiveness among Saudi type II diabetic patients

Abstract

Introduction: Aspirin is widely used as either a primary or secondary preventive measure in of cardiovascular events however, platelets from diabetic patients are less responsive to aspirin and are unable to protect themselves from thrombotic events. Objective and Method: 180 diabetic patients were enrolled for measuring their platelet aggregation. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of aspirin non-responsiveness among Saudi type II diabetic patients. Serum glucose level and other clinical data were collected to find out the possible determinant of reduced platelet sensitivity to aspirin. Results: The prevalence of aspirin non-responsiveness was 9.44%. A significant correlation between aspirin test and each of fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol and platelet count was observed. In contrast, there was no correlation among aspirin non-response, body mass index, age or hypertension. Conclusion: The relationship between the levels of glucose in the blood and aspirin resistance relates the importance of controlling blood glucose in diabetic patients to guarantee better aspirin action. Regular examining of type II diabetic patients to determine the sensitivity of platelet to the antiplatelet therapy is necessary to protect them from the risks of cardiovascular complications.