HOPE for patients with Type 2 diabetes: an application of the findings of the MICRO-HOPE substudy in a British hospital diabetes clinic

Aims The MICRO-HOPE substudy demonstrated that when ramipril treatment was added to people with Type 2 diabetes and additional cardiovascular risk fac tors cardiovascular events were reduced by 25% in 4.5 years. We wished to d etermine the proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes and additional cardi ovascular risk factors registered with a hospital diabetes service. Methods Non-proteinuric people (n = 1370) with Type 2 diabetes identified o n our diabetes register were subject to analysis. Anticipated reductions in cardiovascular events due to ramipril treatment were based on reductions o bserved in the MICRO-HOPE substudy. Results Non-proteinuric people (n = 1075 (78%)) with Type 2 diabetes had at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor. Twenty-nine percent were already taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. The remaining 76 4 patients were similar to ramipril-treated participants in the MICRO-HOPE substudy. Treatment with ramipril for 4.5 years would be anticipated to red uce cardiovascular deaths by 26, revascularization procedures by 19 and adm issions for myocardial infarction and stroke by 18 and 26, respectively. Conclusions Of non-proteinuric people with Type 2 diabetes, 78% have additi onal cardiovascular risk factors. Only a small proportion currently receive treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. The incidence o f cardiovascular events could be reduced if more patients were treated with ramipril and other cardiovascular risk factors were addressed.