Clinical characteristics and degree of glycemic and cardiovascular risk factor control in patients with type 1 diabetes in Catalonia (Spain)

Background: this study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, complications, degree of glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factor control in patients with type 1 diabetes in Catalonia (Northwest of Spain). Methods: cross-sectional study using a database including clinical, laboratory, and treatment data. Patients with an ICD10 diagnosis of type 1 diabetes were included, excluding those treated with glucose-lowering agents other than insulin, or treated only with basal insulin two years after diagnosis. Results: 15,008 patients were analysed. Median IQR age was 42 (31-53) years, diabetes duration 11.8 (6.8-16.0) years, 56.5% men. Median (IQR) HbA1c was 7.9% (7.1-8.8). Microvascular complications were present in 24.4% of patients, 43.6% in those with a diabetes duration >19 years. In presence of known cardiovascular disease 69.3% of patients showed an LDL-C concentration >70 mg/dL, 37% had a systolic blood pressure >135 mmHg and 22.4% were smokers. Conclusions: this study provides a reliable snapshot about the clinical situation of a large population of patients with T1D in Catalonia, which is similar to that of other western areas. The lack of adequate control of cardiovascular risk factors in a significant proportion of patients with cardiovascular disease deserves a more detailed analysis and urges the need for improvement strategies