Aim: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and awareness of CVD and related risk factors in people living with T2D, globally.
Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 17 questions was used to conduct the Taking Diabetes to Heart survey, between September 2017 and May 2018 among people living with T2D. All categorical variables are presented as numbers and percentages. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to assess the association between categorical variables.
Results: A total of 12,695 respondents living with T2D in 133 countries completed the questionnaire. Almost half of the respondents (44%) reported having lived with diabetes for more than nine years. Only one in six (17%) considered themselves at high risk of CVD, which was surprising given that almost all the respondents had at least one CVD risk factor and around 28% of respondents had experienced one or more CVD events in the past. Although the majority of the respondents indicated they have had CVD risk factors, one in six (17%) had never discussed their risk with a health professional (HP). Furthermore, one in eleven (9%) did not know about CVD and its associated risk factors.
Conclusion: To mitigate the prevalence of CVD in people living with diabetes, it is required to work with HP to increase knowledge and awareness of people with T2D about diabetes complications, in particular CVD.
Keywords: Awareness; Cardiovascular diseases; Knowledge; Risk factors; Type 2 diabetes.
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