Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder and is associated with development of chronic macrovascular complications leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical profile of macrovascular complications in diabetic patients in Korca, Albania.

Material and methods: A total of 456 cases with type 2 DM attending Department of Endocrine (outpatient/inpatient), from January 2012 to March 2016 (4 years), were recruited in this study. Ages (15+) cases were screened for macrovascular complications. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were included in analyses. A thorough cardiovascular and cerebrovascular history as documented by previous medical records (including medical and hospital records) was collected for all of the patients. Standardised electrocardiogram and a careful examination of the lower extremities was made for all patients.

Results: During the 4 years study 456 patients were evaluated. The mean age of the study population was 63.78±10.02 S.D., with female:male ratio 270/186; duration of diabetes 7.32±7.0 S.D. Of those 82 cases (18%) were newly diagnosed with DM. Mean HbA1c was 8.5±1.5 DS. Mean BMI was 28.06kg/m² ±4.37 DS (range 17.6–45.9). 47% of the patients were overweight and 27.5% were obese.77.4% of the patients had hypertension. 13.4% of patients were tabacco users. The prevalence of macrovascular diseases in total was 25.7%. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), diabetic foot wounds and amputacion of an extremity were 16.9, 4.16, 4.37 and 0.21% respectively. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was three times more often in males than females. There was significant positive correlation (P<0.05) between macrovascular complication and the duration of diabetes, age of the patients, BMI and hypertension respectively.

Conclusion: There was high prevalence of macrovascular disease, especially cardiovascular disease in Korça population with DM. Screening for chronic macrovascular complications of diabetes is recommended in order to prevent and treat them, reducing morbidity and mortality from diabetes.

Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus;macrovascular diseases, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetic foot wounds, amputation.