Overview of the importance of glycaemic control for cardiovascular events in the in-and out-patient setting

Abstract

Worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the adult population is increasing and when explicitly searched within specific groups of patients, as those presenting cardiovascular disease (CVD), dysglycaemia is detected in about three-quarters of the patients. Dysglycaemia alone is a major risk factor for microvascular and macrovascular complications that impair quality of life and diminish survival. The coexistence of CVD and dysglycaemia in the same individual increases its cardiovascular risk considerably. Since a significant proportion of dysglycaemic individuals develop vascular damage and the disturbed glucose metabolism remains undetected until the first cardiovascular event, there is imperative need for improved strategies for glucometabolic health assessment and management in patients with CVD. The present review has the aim to discuss the importance of glycaemic control for future cardiovascular events starting from the in-hospital setting and continuing to long-term management based on available literature and recently updated international guidelines.