Clinical macrovascular disease in Caucasoid diabetic subjects: logistic regression analysis of risk variables

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of 1084 Caucasoid diabetic subjects in rural Western Australia revealed a high rate of clinical macrovascular disease (46%), including coronary heart disease (13%), stroke (8%), and peripheral vascular disease (38%). Age was the major time-related variable for total macrovascular disease and for peripheral vascular disease, with identical prevalence rates in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes when age was taken into account. In 179 Type 1 diabetic subjects, logistic regression analysis showed no associated risk factors other than age. In 905 Type 2 diabetic subjects the independent risk factors for total macrovascular disease, identified by a forward stepwise selection procedure, were age as the major contributor, with plasma creatinine levels and plasma glucose levels (all pppp<0.001).