Diabetes Care, Vol 16, Issue 1 137-143, Copyright © 1993 by American Diabetes Association
Development of macrovascular diseases in NIDDM patients in northern Taiwan. A 4-yr follow-up study
CC Fu, CJ Chang, CH Tseng, MS Chen, CS Kao, TJ Wu, HP Wu, LM Chuang, CJ Chen and TY Tai
Department of Family Medicine, Provincial Tao-Yuan Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
OBJECTIVE--To assess the development of macrovascular diseases and explore
major associative factors in NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--A total of
479 NIDDM patients > or = 40 yr of age were recruited from four
community primary care health centers of northern Taiwan in July 1986 for a
cohort study with a 4-yr follow-up. No patient required insulin therapy
within 1 yr of diagnosis nor had a history of diabetic ketoacidosis. All
were able to participate independently in the activities of daily living.
BP and ECG were measured, and a structured questionnaire was asked of each
patient. Venous blood after overnight fasting was collected every year to
measure cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, plasma glucose, and HbA1c.
RESULTS--The duration of diabetes was associated with the development of
stroke with a relative risk of 1.063 for every 1-yr increment (P = 0.07).
As for HVDs, the significant risk factors were serum cholesterol and HbA1c.
For every 1-mg/dl increase in mean total cholesterol level, the relative
risk of developing HVD increased 1.016-fold (P = 0.04). For every 1%
increase in HbA1c, the relative risk of developing HVD increased 1.170-fold
(P = 0.01). With regard to leg VDs, sex and cigarette smoking were
significant risk factors. Women diabetic subjects had a higher relative
risk than men. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with leg VD
with a relative risk of 6.9 for smokers compared with nonsmokers. The most
significant risk factor for LVD was the total cholesterol level. For every
1-mg/dl increase in mean serum cholesterol level, the relative risk of LVD
increased 1.013-fold. CONCLUSIONS--In the prevention of macrovascular
diseases, effective intervention of the nondiabetic cardiovascular risk
factors may be as important as or even more important than the good control
of diabetes.