Prevalence of cardiovascular and renal comorbidities among patients with type 2 diabetes routinely treated in the primary care setting in Greece: An epidemiological study (the RECARDIA study)

• Published in: Journal of diabetes and its complications Vol. 39; no. 8; p. 109087
• Main Authors: Papanas, Nikolaos, Tsimihodimos, Vasileios, Katsiki, Niki, Doupis, John, Pagkalos, Emmanouil, Nikas, Nikos, Papakonstantopoulos, Nikos, Karpouzos, George, Tentolouris, Nikolaos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2025; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Chronic kidney disease; Clinical medicine; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - therapy; Diabetic Nephropathies - epidemiology; Family physicians; Female; Females; Global health; Greece - epidemiology; Heart failure; Humans; Hypertension; Kidney diseases; Male; Metabolic disorders; Middle Aged; Obesity; Patients; Prevalence; Primary care; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sociodemographics; Statistical analysis; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Variables; Greece; ESRD; T1DM; T2DM; HDA; Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; ASCVD; GPP; DM; Cardiovascular disease; IDF; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; HFrEF; BP; SD; DBP; ESC; AIC; UACR; CKD; HbA1c; BMI; eGFR; SBP; Heart failure; GLP-1 RA; LDL-c; CI; CAD; Chronic kidney disease; SGLT-2i; CeVD; CVD; ORs; PAD; CV; ACEi; KDIGO; ISPE; DDP-4i; HF
• ISSN: 1056-8727; 1873-460X; 1873-460X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109087

This study aimed to generate real-world data on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and heart failure (HF), as well as chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) routinely treated in Greece. This was a non-interventional, epidemiological, multicentre, cross-sectional and retrospective chart review study of T2DM patients attending a routine clinical visit at 198 outpatient primary care settings across Greece from November 2020 to February 2022. Among 2000 enrolled T2DM outpatients, the prevalence of ASCVD was 20.40 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 18.67 %–22.25 %), of HF 8.03 % (95 % CI: 6.67 %–9.63 %), and of CKD 49.55 % (95 % CI: 47.36 %–51.74 %). Hypertension was correlated with increased risk of ASCVD, HF or CKD, dyslipidaemia with ASCVD and CKD, obesity solely with HF, and smoking with ASCVD. Patients over 65 years were at higher risk of ASCVD, HF or CKD, whereas those with T2DM for ≥10 years had a higher risk of ASCVD or HF. Finally, males were more likely to have ASCVD The present study confirms the high prevalence of CVD and CKD among Greek T2DM patients managed in primary care, that potentially qualify for new antidiabetic treatments with cardiovascular or renal benefits. •Cardiovascular and renal complications are prevalent in Greek patients with type 2 diabetes.•Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, smoking, age, diabetes duration, and male gender are common risk factors.•Use of newer antihyperglyacemic therapies with cardiovascular and renal benefits remains suboptimal.•Greater guideline awareness and adherence is needed.