Anticoagulation therapy in diabetic patients

Abstract

Diabetic patients have a high risk of developing arterial disease (coronary artery, cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial disease) and are therefore often given antiplatelet therapy. Although only retrospective studies suggest that diabetic patients are also prone to venous thrombo-embolism, many comorbid factors in the diabetic patient, such as heart failure, physical inactivity and atrial fibrillation increase the risk of venous thrombosis. A recent sub-analysis of the RECORD study examined the risk of hyperglycaemia during hip replacement, as a risk factor for postoperative venous thrombo-embolism. For these reasons, diabetic patients are also often given anticoagulant therapy.