Community-acquired infections in type 2 diabetic patients and their nondiabetic partners. The Fremantle Diabetes Study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Type 2 diabetes and community-acquired infections.


METHODS
We recruited 68 patients (mean+/-S.D. age=64.9+/-9.1 years; 57.4% males) from a community-based cohort and their nondiabetic partners (age=63.8+/-9.9 years; mean relationship duration=37.3+/-11.5 years) to a prospective observational matched-pair cohort study. Participants were assessed for infection risk factors and were required to complete an infection diary over the following year.


RESULTS
Sixty patient-partner pairs returned completed diaries. A greater proportion of patients than partners had received influenza vaccination in the past year (73.3% vs. 60.0%; P=.057), but pneumococcal vaccination coverage in the previous 5 years was similar (11.7% vs. 10.0%; P=1.0). The proportions of patients and partners reporting no infections were similar (51.7% vs. 58.3%; P=.52), but the diabetic patients were more likely to have experienced more than one infection (33.3% vs. 18.3%: P=.022). Baseline glycosylated hemoglobin levels in patients with and without at least one infection were similar, and there was no association between multiple infections and glycosylated hemoglobin (P>.2 in each case). After adjusting for age and gender, the probability of at least one infection during follow-up was not associated with diabetes (P=.33), but the number of infections was positively associated with diabetes (P=.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Although similar proportions of Type 2 diabetic patients and their nondiabetic partners remained infection-free over a 12-month period, the diabetic patients who developed infections had a greater number of episodes. Glycemic control did not predict the risk or frequency of community-acquired infections in the diabetic group.
Davis
Timothy M E
TM
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Fremantle Hospital, University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 480, Fremantle, Western Australia 6959, Australia. tdavis@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Weerarathne
Thilak
T
Foong
Yvonne
Y
Mason
Cliff
C
Davis
Wendy A
WA
D015331:Cohort Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology