Aggregation of features of the metabolic syndrome is associated with increased prevalence of chronic complications in Type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of features of the metabolic syndrome with the prevalence of chronic complications.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 548 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in the presence of at least two of the following: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and microalbuminuria.


RESULTS
Patients with the metabolic syndrome (85%) had a higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (35% vs. 18%), retinopathy (44% vs. 20%), distal sensory neuropathy (DSN) (44% vs. 24%), micro- and macroalbuminuria (38% vs. 28%) and coronary artery disease (CAD) (53% vs. 36%). The more metabolic syndrome features (none/one, two, three or four), the higher the proportion of diabetes complications: PVD 18%, 31%, 37% and 38%; stroke 1.0%, 4.5%, 5.9% and 11.3%; retinopathy 20%, 38%, 42% and 64%; DSN 24%, 32%, 49% and 57%; micro- and macroalbuminuria 28%, 36% and 41%; and CAD 36%, 44%, 52% and 60% (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The metabolic syndrome and the aggregation of its components were significantly associated with macro- and microvascular complications in Type 2 DM patients.
Costa
L A
LA
Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Canani
L H
LH
Lisbôa
H R K
HR
Tres
G S
GS
Gross
J L
JL
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000150:complications; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications
D002784:Cholesterol