Metabolic control and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients according to diabetes duration

Background. Control of glycaemic levels as well as cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) is essen- tial to prevent the onset of complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aim. T o describe the degree of glycaemic control and CVRF in relation to diabetes duration. Patients and methods. Multicentre cross-sectional study in T2DM patients seen in primary care centres during 2007. Variables: Demographical and clinical characteristics, antidiabetic treat- ments and development of disease complications. Diabetes duration classification: 0-5, 6-10, 11-20 and >20 years. Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results. A total of 31 30 patients; 51.5% males; mean age: 68 ± 1 1.7 years; mean diabetes dura- tion:7.0 (±5.6) years, median: 5 (interquartile range:3-9) years; mean HbA 1c : 6.84 (±1.5), were analyzed. There has been a progressive decline in HbA 1c levels (HbA 1c > 7% in 25.8% of patients during the first 5 years and 51.8% after 20 years). Blood pressure values remained relatively sta- ble throughout disease duration. The mean value of low density lipoprotein (LDL) experienced a slight decline with the progression of the disease, but due to the significant increase of cardio- vascular disease (CVD) after 20 years of duration, less patients reached the recommended target (LDL < 100 mg/dl) in secondary prevention. L ogistic regression model controlling for age, sex and CVD showed that diabetes duration was related to glycaemic control (odds ratio: 1.066, 95% confidence interval: 1.050-1.082 per year) but not to blood pressure or LDL control. Conclusions. The degree of glycaemic control and the risk factor s in relation to the duration of T2DM followed different patterns. Diabetes duration was associated with a poorer glycaemic control but in general had a limited role in blood pressure control or lipid profile.