Background and objective: We aimed to analyze the contribution of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the glycemic control on the incidence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients. Our goal was also to validate to 10 years the coronary risk functions charts that use the original Framingham equation (Framingham-Wilson) and the calibrated one for the Spanish population (Framingham-REGICOR) in diabetic patients with MetS.
Patients and method: We included a total of 206 diabetic patients from a primary care center (63.6% with MetS), with no history of cardiovascular disease, in whom the coronary risk could be calculated prior to 1 January 1995. All were followed up during 10 years.
Results: The incidence of stroke, coronary and global events was similar in diabetic patients with and without MetS (15.3% vs 14.7%, 9.2% vs 9.3% and 20.6% vs 21.3%, respectively). The presence of glycosylated hemoglobin > or = 7% increased the risk of global cardiovascular events (relative risk [RR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-4.09) and stroke (RR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.17-9.84). The considered coronary risk in Framingham-Wilson and REGICOR equations was higher in the patients with MetS (29.6% and 12.4% vs 23.4% and 9.4%, respectively; p < 0,01), but the validity criteria of these equations in the diabetic population are very discreet.
Conclusions: A value of glycosylated hemoglobin > or = 7% increases the risk of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients whereas the incidence of this events was similar in patients with and without MetS. The utility of the Framingham-Wilson and REGICOR equations is reduced in the diabetic population.