Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases where prolonged hyperglycemia provoke damaging impact on internal organs and the skin as well. Comprehension of dermatological changes in DM, association with demographic values, metabolic compensation level (HbA1C) could help to define groups where skin complications may develop more often. That could be a useful criteria to diagnose DM earlier.

Aim: To determine prevalence of skin pathological conditions in DM, to find out their association with demographic values, compensation level.

Material and methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Participants were included from Internal Medicine Clinic of Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital. Patient interviewing, observation and retrospective analysis of case files were performed.

Results: A total of 151 patients were included - 70 (46%) men and 81 (54%) women; the mean age was 59.9 years (S.D. 15.9 years). Patients were divided into 3 age groups – group I (≤45 years) 19%, group II (46–59 years) 25%, group III (≥60 years) 56%; into groups by DM duration, type and therapy – (0–5 years) 27%, (6–10 years) 23%, (11–20 years) 34%, (>20 years) 16%; Type 1DM 19%, Type 2DM 75%, other (secondary) 6%;with insulin therapy (60%), with peroral therapy, diet (40%). 4 most frequent skin conditions were identified - atrophy (75%), dryness (70%), onychomycosis (59%), necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (42%). Prevalences of skin conditions were found statistically significant: atrophy in III age group 86% (P=0.001); dryness with disease duration 80% (P=0.043), in women 78% (P=0.02); onychomycosis in III age group 74% (P=0.001), in patients with Type 2DM 67% (P=0.004); necrobiosis in patients with insulin therapy 49% (P=0.03), in II–III age groups 48% (P=0.012).

Conclusion: Most common dermatological conditions in DM patients are atrophy, dryness, onychomycosis, necrobiosis lipoidica, hypohidrosis. Associations with age, gender, treatment, disease duration, type were defined. There was no statistical significance found with compensation level.