Metabolic control and chronic complications during a 3-year follow-up period in a cohort of type 2 diabetic patients attended in primary care in the Community of Madrid (Spain)

Background: Our aim was to analyze both metabolic control and chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) patients regularly attended in primary care during a 3 years of follow-up in the Community of Madrid (Spain). Methods: From 2007 to 2010 we prospectively included 3268 patients with T2D attended by 153 primary care physicians from 51 family health centers. An prospective cohort study with annual evaluation over 3 years to the same population was performed. We measured the goals of control in diabetic patients and the incidence of chronic complications of diabetes during the study period. Results: A significant decrease in serum glucose levels (143 +/- 42 mg/dl vs 137 +/- 43 mg/dl, p<0.00), HbA1c (7.09 +/- 1.2% vs 7.02 +/- 1.2%, p<0.00), total cholesterol (191.4 +/- 38 mg/dl vs 181.5 36 mg/dl, p<0.00), LDL cholesterol (114.7 +/- 31 mg/dl vs 105.5 30 mg/dl, p<0.00) and triglyceride levels (144.5 +/- 93 mg/dl vs 138 +/- 84 mg/dl, p<0.00) during study period was documented. On the contrary, a significant elevation in HDL cholesterol levels was observed (49.2 +/- 14 mg/dl vs 49.9 16 mg/dl, p< 0.00). The incidence of diabetic complications throughout the study period was low, with a incidence of coronary heart disease of 6.2%, peripheral arterial disease 3%, ischemic stroke 2.8%, diabetic foot 11.2%, nephropathy 5.9%, retinopathy 4.5%, and neuropathy 3%. Conclusion: Metabolic control in T2D patients attended in primary care in the Community of Madrid throughout 3 years is adequate and is accompanied by low percent of chronic diabetic complications during this period of follow-up. (C) 2013 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.