Under-utilisation of cardioprotective glucose-lowering medication in diabetics living with HIV

Abstract

Diabetes is an increasingly common co-morbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). Given new evidence demonstrating cardiovascular benefits of sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) in diabetic patients, we reviewed medical charts of 262 PLWH at Monash Health through a 1-year retrospective cohort study to determine the rates of their use. Prevalence of diabetes was 13.4% (35) and 60% (21) had microvascular and macrovascular complications. Only 4% (95% CI 0.1%–19.6%) of diabetic patients were receiving SGLT2i and 19% (95% CI 6%–39.4%) were receiving GLP1RA. Prescribers should carefully consider their choice of glucose-lowering medication when treating PLWH.