[Prevalence of complications and comorbidities in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study of disease management program participants in Bavaria].

BACKGROUND

Complications and comorbidities of type 2 diabetes account for high costs and reduced life expectancy. There are only incomplete data on the prevalence of those secondary disorders in Germany.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 390,459 data sets of single patients in Bavaria, who were enrolled to disease management program "type 2 diabetes" between 2004 and 2006, were studied. Data obtained from the initial visit documentation were screened retrospectively and analyzed with statistical methods.

RESULTS

About three-fourths of the diabetic population have hypertension. Adiposity and lipometabolic disorder each are found in half of the population. Macro- and microangiopathic disease each occur in about twenty percent. Calculated prevalences of nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy are lower than expected.

CONCLUSION

Complications of type 2 diabetes were frequently observed in the study population. With regard to neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy type-2-diabetics should be examined even more thoroughly.