Prevalence and incidence of chronic complications and mortality in a cohort of type 2 diabetic patients in Spain

Aims: 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 χ2 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. © 2008 Primary Care Diabetes Europe.