Should Type 2 Diabetes Management Be More of a Priority in Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients?

This symposium aimed to address the current issues in the management of patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS), bringing together the views of both cardiologists and diabetologists. T2D increases the risk of ACS and is associated with a poorer prognosis for these patients. Although guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for patients with ACS, specific guidance is lacking following hospital discharge for those with concomitant T2D. As a result, these patients receive suboptimal treatment compared with patients without T2D. The cardiovascular (CV) benefits of intensive glucose lowering alone for those with T2D are uncertain. However, knowledge of the CV safety profiles of available therapies helps diabetologists to provide individualised treatment for their patients. Currently, three studies have reported on the CV safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in patients with T2D. However, active inclusion of patients who are both post-ACS (15–90 days) and at high risk of CV disease (CVD) is rare. Only the DPP-4 alogliptin has been assessed in a CV safety outcome study in patients with this specific profile.