Metabolic control and morbidity of type 2 diabetic patients in a general practice network.
METHODS
Glycaemic control and the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and micro- and macrovascular morbidity was examined in 637 Type 2 diabetic patients in general practice, of whom 405 consented to undergo a more extensive examination.


RESULTS
In these 405 patients, HbA1c was > or = 7% in 56.6%, and hypertension and dyslipidaemia were found in 59.8% and 46.5% of the patients, respectively. The level of cardiovascular risk factors was acceptable, according to the European guidelines, in the following proportions of patients: BMI 45.0%; total cholesterol 69.1%; HDL-cholesterol 68.1%; triglycerides 67.8%; current blood pressure 89.8%; and smoking 21.0%. Retinopathy was present in 12.5% and microalbuminuria in 27.0% of the patients. In all 637 patients, the prevalence of angina pectoris was 17.7%, of myocardial infarction 11.4% and of congestive heart failure 10.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
The care for Type 2 diabetic patients needs improvement and should focus on cardiovascular risk factors as much as on glycaemic control.
Bouma
M
M
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dekker
J H
JH
van Eijk
J T
JT
Schellevis
F G
FG
Kriegsman
D M
DM
Heine
R J
RJ
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin