Prevalence and incidence of chronic complications and mortality in a cohort of type 2 diabetic patients in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence, incidence of micro- and macrovascular complications, final events, and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients, followed over a period of 10 years in Spain.


METHODS
Prospective, population-based cohort study. 317 type 2 diabetic patients treated at a Primary Care Centre, followed for 10 years. Variables were described by means of ratios, mean values and standard deviation. The chi(2) test was used to compare ratios and the Student's t test to compare mean values.


RESULTS
Mean age in women (61%) was 61.2 years; men 66.7 years. With regard to the prevalence of complications, the following was observed: an increase in nephropathy (12%), in retinopathy (6.2%) and in neuropathy (2.1%), a decrease in ischemic cardiomyopathy (-6.2%), an increase in peripheral vascular disease (5.6%). Cerebrovascular event and diabetic foot remaining unchanged. The highest incidence rates (1000 subjects/year) were: nephropathy 43, neuropathy 39 and ischemic cardiomyopathy 32. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors increased over the follow-up; being high blood pressure the most noticeable (30%). Overall mortality was 28/1000 subjects/year, being cardiovascular disease the main cause (31.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study determines the prevalence and incidence of chronic complications and risk factors in Spain.
Mundet
Xavier
X
El Carmel University Primary Care Centre, Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona City District, Department of Medicine (General Practitioner Section), Autonomous University of Barcelona, La Murta 130, 08032 Barcelona, Spain. 16274xmt@comb.es
Pou
Antonia
A
Piquer
Nuria
N
Sanmartin
Maria Isabel Fernandez
MI
Tarruella
Marc
M
Gimbert
Rosa
R
Farrus
Montserrat
M
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology