Cardiodiabetology: The convergence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract

With the predominant causes of morbidity and mortality in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus being atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and its complications [1], including myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure, and the combination of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease being associated with a substantial additional risk for mortality from cardiovascular disease and all causes compared with either alone [2], a close understanding of the epidemiology and management of cardiovascular risk factors beyond glycemic control in persons with diabetes is needed. The long-term followup of the Steno-2 study [3] as well as observational follow-up of three major US cohort studies [4] shows the powerful long-term benefits of multifactorial risk factor control. Unfortunately, many patients in the USA with diabetes are not at target for composite risk factors [5], warranting a need for better coordinated care for the management of ASCVD risk factors in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Importantly a close collaboration between the fields of cardiology and endocrinology as well as primary care fields managing most of the patients with diabetes is needed if we are to address the expanding epidemic of diabetes and cardiovascular disease globally.