Cardiovascular risk factor management is poorer in diabetic patients with undiagnosed peripheral arterial disease than in those with known coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease. Results of a nationwide study in tertiary diabetes centres

AIMS

To assess whether patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and unrecognized peripheral arterial disease (PAD), detected by the ankle-brachial index (ABI), have poorer cardiovascular risk factor management (CVRFs) and receive fewer medications than patients previously diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

In 31 diabetes centres throughout Spain, 1303 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were screened for PAD using the ABI. Patient history of CHD and CVD and treatment and control of CVRFs were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients had an ABI > 1.30 and were excluded, leaving 1262 patients (age 65.3 +/- 7.7 years) for the study. Of those screened, 790 patients had a normal ABI (ABI > 0.9) and no known history of CHD or CVD (no CHD/CVD/PAD group), 194 had unrecognized PAD (ABI < or = 0.9) with no known history of CHD or CVD (undiagnosed PAD group) and 278 had a known history of CHD and/or CVD (CHD/CVD group). The undiagnosed PAD group had higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (2.9 +/- 0.83 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.84 mmol/l; P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (150 +/- 20 vs. 145 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.001) compared with the CHD/CVD group. They were less likely to take statins (56.9 vs. 71.6%; P < 0.001), anti-hypertensive agents (75.9 vs. 90.1%, P = 0.001), and anti-platelet agents (aspirin, 28.7 vs. 57.2%; P < 0.001; clopidogrel, 5.6 vs. 20.9%; P < 0.001) and more likely to smoke (21.0 vs. 9.2%; P < 0.001). Higher LDL in the undiagnosed PAD group was associated with the underutilization of statins.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of ABI detected a significant number of patients with PAD, who did not have CHD or CVD, but whose CVRFs were under treated and poorly controlled compared with subjects with CHD and/or CVD.

Socio-economic inequalities in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and chronic diabetic complications in the Basque Country, Spain

AIMS

To establish the relationship between socio-economic status and the prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and chronic diabetic complications.

METHODS

In 2000, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 61 general practitioners (GPs) who studied 65 651 people older than 24 years. Of those, 2985 known Type 2 diabetic patients were registered. The main outcome measures were: diabetes prevalence, major cardiovascular risk factors, chronic diabetic complications and primary care services utilization in Type 2 diabetic patients. Socio-economic status was based on area-based socio-economic measures.

RESULTS

The prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes was higher in patients of lower socio-economic status (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.77-2.28), especially among women (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.91-2.73). In Type 2 diabetes patients, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and abnormal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and HbA(1c) were more prevalent among those from lower socio-economic status. Macroangiopathy was inversely associated with socio-economic status after adjustment for clinical and demographic variables. Patients of lower socio-economic status more frequently visited primary care services than those of higher status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows an association between deprivation and Type 2 diabetes prevalence, cardiovascular risk factors and chronic diabetic complications in Type 2 diabetes patients. Despite a greater use of health services by less wealthy patients, they showed worse glycaemic control and more chronic complications. Besides clinical variables, socio-economic status and environmental information need to be considered in the assessment of risk profile of diabetic patients by health professionals and by health service planners.

Incidence, prevalence and coronary heart disease risk level in known Type 2 diabetes: a sentinel practice network study in the Basque Country, Spain

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, prevalence and coronary heart disease risk in patients with known Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in a Basque Country sentinel practice network study.

METHODS

During the year 2000 we did a survey among sentinel practitioners who registered information about previously and newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients older than 24 years of age. We studied 65,651 people attending a primary care service in the Basque Country Health Service-Osakidetza. We collected information about diabetic complications and cardiovascular risk factors and measured the coronary heart disease risk in these patients.

RESULTS

In the year 2000, the standardized cumulative incidence and prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes were 5.0 per 1000 (CI 95%: 4.9-5.1) and 4.6% (CI 95%: 4.5-4.7) respectively. Macroangiopathy was the most frequent complication both in the newly diagnosed (21.6%) and previously known Type 2 diabetic patients (33%). Total cholesterol > or =5.17 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol > or =2.58 mmol/l were found in 75% and 90% of newly diagnosed and 65% and 85% of previously diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients respectively. Of the Type 2 diabetic patients 42% were obese and 80% had high blood pressure. More than 55% of the men compared with 44% of the women with Type 2 diabetes had high or very high risk of coronary heart disease (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

We report new epidemiological data on known Type 2 diabetes in the Basque Country. These patients have a high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors causing a high coronary heart disease risk.

Course and prognosis of 132 patients with diabetic non ketotic hyperosmolar state

One hundred and thirty two episodes of diabetic non ketotic hyperosmolar states were studied after a prospective schedule of treatment was designed. The admission data, the prognostic factors and their outcome were analyzed. Initial high osmolarity, urea and sodium plasma levels and low plasma pH were related to the admission level of consciousness (p < 0.01). High glucose, osmolarity, urea and sodium plasma levels at entry were related to the admission level of dehydration (p < 0.01). In multivariate regression analysis, osmolarity was the most influential variable in both the level of consciousness and the admission level of dehydration (p < 0.0001). Twenty two patients died (16.9%). Septic shock was the most frequent cause of death (31%) and mortality was higher in patients with cardiovascular disease (acute myocardial infarction or stroke) as the precipitating factor for diabetic hyperosmolar state (p < 0.002). Older age, low blood pressure, low sodium, pH and bicarbonate plasma levels, and high urea plasma levels were related to mortality (p < 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, urea was the most influential mortality risk factor (p < 0.0118). Non survivors received higher doses of insulin than survivors (p < 0.01). All these data suggest that it is not the hyperosmolarity itself, but the hemodynamical state of the patients, which is the most influential factor on the prognosis of a diabetic hyperosmolar state.