[Risk factors of the complications of diabetes mellitus]

A total of 1,030 diabetic patients were studied in order to identify factors associated with various complications. A higher proportion of women was found (64.1%). Using regression analysis of prevalence versus the logarithm of the duration of diabetes, a half-life of 5.14 years was calculated. In the study of complications, peripheral neuropathy, amputations, renal impairment, albuminuria, myocardial infarction, cataract and amaurosis were strongly associated with duration of diabetes rather than with the age of the patient or the age at diagnosis; in contrast, blood pressure and impotence correlated better with the age of the patient. A discriminant function analysis permitted to identify several factors as predictors of diverse complication mainly: the duration of the disease, and previous use of insulin (negative correlation). Other predictors were glycemia, alcoholism, smoking habit and intake of legumes (beans). Albuminuria was assessed with a radioimmunoassay procedure and found to be associated with: duration of diabetes, urinary tract infection, systolic blood pressure and amaurosis. Some alimentary habits were also included as predictors of complications.