Objective: To evaluate the level of compliance with the 2002 consensus document (Spanish Society of Nephrology) on guidelines for the detection, prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy in Catalonia.
Subjects and methods: Multicenter (23 hospitals), observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in 413 diabetic patients (61.7% men, 38.3% women) with a median age of 66.2 +/-11.5 years (26-93 years). The ANOVA test (post-hoc analysis; p value< 0.05) was used to study the relationships between the stages of diabetic nephropathyand different variables.
Results: 90.3% of the patients had type 2 DM. The following anthropometric parameters were observed: BMI 29.8 +/- 5 kg/m2 (BMI > 30 kg/m2: 48.7%) and waist circumference 104.1 +/- 14 cm (48.6% men > 102 cm and 78.9% women > 88 cm). Serum creatinine 1.9 +/- 1.3 mg/dl and simplified MDRD equation 45.3 +/- 25.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 [65.8%with CKD stages 3 and 4]. 80% of patients had ophthalmologic examination and 52.8% antiplatelet treatment. Hb A1c was 7.3 +/- 1.3%, but the percentage of patients with glycated hemoglobin > 7% and 8% was 54.9 and 28.6% [only 50.2% had been seen by an endocrinologist in the last 6 months]. 52.8% of patients were treated with insulin and 44.1% with anti-diabetic drugs, although only 19.6% used the new anti-diabetic drugs. 61% of patients had an LDLc > 100 mg/dl (61% treated) and 44% had triglycerides (TG) > 150 mg/dl (72% treated). 95% of patients presented with hypertension (BP > or = 130/80 mmHg),91% were undergoing antihypertensive treatment (79.7% with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and / or angiotensin receptor blockers). 81% with microalbuminuria and 78%with established proteinuria were receiving anti-proteinuric treatment. Of the patients considered to be refractory to BP (>3 drugs), only 28.9% underwent ambulatory BP monitoring. Significant differences were observed between stages of diabetic nephropathy and glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c; p = 0.048), systolic blood pressure (SBP; p = 0.024), lipidic control (HDLc; p = 0.015 and TG; p = 0.034), anemia (Hb; p = 0.010) and CKD (creatinine and sMDRD; p = 0.000). The levels of compliance with the therapeutic objectives regarding lipid control (LDL < or = 100 mg/dl and TG< or = 150 mg/dl), BP < or = 130/80 mmHg and HbA1c < or =7% were 1 objective: 68%, 2 objectives: 21.8% and 3 objectives: only 4% of patients.
Conclusions: According to the results of our study, only a reduced proportion of patients fulfilled the different therapeutic end-points indicated. Future measures will be directed at improving physician-patient relationships with the main aim of intensifying the therapeutic measures to attain better metabolic and blood pressure control, nephroprotection and prevention in the appearance of cardiovascular events.