Prevalence of macrovascular complications in diabetics of WAH, District Rawalpindi.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of macrovascular complications in diabetic subjects with relation to age duration of diabetes and metabolic control. SETTING Primary care centres of WAH, District Rawalpindi cross sectional population based study. METHODS A total of 805 known diabetics (380 males and 425 females) were studied. Relevant history, detailed physician examination and ECG were done to assess the presence of ischaemic heart disease, stroke and diabetic foot complications. Their diabetic control was assessed by estimation of their plasma glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin. RESULTS The prevalence of macrovascular complications was as follows: Ischaemic heart disease 19.8% (female 4.7%, males 7.8%), cerebrovascular disease 6.2% (females 4.7%, males 22.1%) and diabetic foot complications 2.1%. The macrovascular complications increased with age, duration of diabetes and were more prevalent in uncontrolled diabetics having glycosylated haemoglobin > 8.6%. CONCLUSION Prevalence of macrovascular complication in our population is higher as compared to the West probably due to better management and diabetic care in those countries.