Physiological and Biochemical Analysis of Cardiovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Numerous researchers have examined drug interactions using various living organisms, including humans and animals, to mitigate or prevent the risks associated with drug-disease interactions while enhancing drug efficacy. This study aimed to explore the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly atherosclerotic CVD (AsCVD), in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were prescribed sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Additionally, it sought to provide further insights into the prevalence of CVD among T2D patients. The research included 422 T2D patients diagnosed in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, who were receiving care at secondary healthcare facilities. The median age of participants was 66 years, with a median diabetes duration of 13.3 years. Findings revealed that AsCVD accounted for 27.2% of all CVD cases, with coronary heart disease being the most prevalent (20.8%), followed by carotid artery disease (12.1%). Biguanides were the most commonly prescribed medication (74.2%), used in treating 75.9% of the patients. The study also indicated that CVD patients had a higher usage rate of SGLT2is and a lower usage rate of GLP-1 RAs compared to non-CVD patients, with usage rates of 16.9% and 14.5% versus 14.8% and 15.1%, respectively. The primary objective of this research was to examine the dual role of these medications, which are primarily used for T2D treatment but also exhibit beneficial pharmacological effects in patients with cardiovascular disease.