Prevalences of risk factors and angiopathy in diabetic patients in Uppsala

The prevalences of risk factors and angiopathy were studied in 260 diabetic patients, 100 females and 160 males, 35-54 years old, in Uppsala. The prevalence, in females and males separately, of hypertension (WHO-criteria) was 46-34%, of hypercholesterolaemia (greater than or equal to 6.7 mmol.l-1) 32-29%, and of obesity (relative BMI greater than or equal to 120%) 25-20%. Those smoking greater than 15 cigarettes/day were 11-20%. Mean HbA1 was 10.6-10.5%. The prevalence of angina pectoris was 11-6%, of possible infarction 4-6%, and of major ECG abnormalities 6-4%. Large vessel (cardiovascular) disease was independently related to HbA1 (strongly), hypertension, cholesterol, age and familial NIDDM. The prevalence of severe retinopathy (blindness, new vessels or large hemorrhage) was 0% with 7-13 years of diabetes duration, and 26% with greater than or equal to 14 years of duration. The prevalence of severe proteinuria was 4% with 7-13 years of diabetes duration, and 15% with greater than or equal to 14 years of duration. Small vessel (retinopathy and nephropathy) disease was independently related to diabetes duration (strongly), HbA1 and hypertension. The data were discussed related to data from the London, Berlin and Tokyo centres of the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetics, using the same study protocol in the present study.