Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Evaluating low-dose aspirin use in diabetic patients

9^th International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacovigilance & Drug Safety

July 17-18, 2017 Munich, Germany

Wijdan H Ramadan

Lebanese American University, Lebanon

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pharmacovigil

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Diabetic patient, both men and women, have an increased risk of dying from complications of cardiovascular disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends low-dose aspirin therapy (75-162 mg) as a primary prevention strategy in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) at increased cardiovascular risk. However, not all patients who are indicated are being prescribed low-dose aspirin. The purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of aspirin use among adult diabetic patients in the Lebanese community. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Adult patients with DM from both genders presenting to 15 community pharmacies in Lebanon were approached to participate in the study. Over a period of eight months, 140 questionnaires were filled. Patient demographic information, past medical history, current medications, allergies, aspirin dose, and cardiovascular events were collected. The filled questionnaires were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for analysis. The evaluation of the aspirin use was based on the most current ADA-defined indication for aspirin use in diabetic patients. Findings: The majority of patients were males aging 50 years and above. Of the 140 patients surveyed, 115 patients (82%) were indicated for aspirin therapy. Among these 112 patients, 73% reported aspirin use based on physicians�?? recommendations at appropriate doses; 79%, 12%, and 9% of patients were using 100 mg, 81 mg and 75 mg of aspirin respectively. Conclusion & Significance: A significant percentage (around 27%) of the surveyed diabetic patients were indicated for aspirin therapy but were not prescribed any which might lead to cardiovascular complications.

Biography :

Wijdan H Ramadan is a full time Faculty Member at Lebanese American University - School of Pharmacy in Lebanon. Through her years of experience, she has developed and structured more than 17 pharmacy courses. She is the leader of community pharmacy practice; she has initiated, developed, and coordinated the Community Pharmacy Precepting Program (CPPP), discharge medication counseling rotation, and health awareness activities in all community pharmacy practice sites in Lebanon. She has published several papers in reputable peer-reviewed international journals; in addition to the posters presentations/research abstracts that were presented in international conferences. Moreover, she conducted numerous workshops in and outside Lebanon about counseling and over-the-counter products.

Email: wramadan@lau.edu.lb