Epidemiology of the Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetes in Germany

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components may act synergistically as risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD). We aimed to confirm this by evaluating the relationship between MetS and AVID in patients with type 2 diabetes as part of the Diabetes in Germany (DIG) study. Methods: 4020 type 2 diabetic patients aged 35-80 years were recruited from 238 private practices. Medical histories, risk factor profiles, and clinical and laboratory parameters were collected using a standardized questionnaire. The exclusion criteria were: a major cardiovascular event in the last three months; neoplasia in the last five years; heart failure NYHA IV; and chronic renal failure. MetS was assessed according to AHA/NHBLI criteria. AVD was: history of myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization and/or stroke. Results: MetS was diagnosed in around 74.4 % of the participants, with hypertension being the most frequent (91 %) of all components. The risk for AVD increased in accordance with the number of MetS components. Drug treatment significantly affected all components of MetS. Conclusions: The risk of AVID was 1.4-fold higher in those diabetics with MetS. These DIG data confirm the premise that MetS and its components act synergistically as risk factors for AVD, and support the need for an all-encompassing diagnosis and treatment regimen for patients with diabetes and MetS.