Coronary heart disease incidence in diabetic patients, and its relationship to general risk factors.

The five-year incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in middle-aged diabetics (54 insulin-dependent--IDDM, 152 non-insulin-dependent--NIDDM) and 105 controls. In comparison to the controls, CHD incidence was higher only in IDDM patients (11.5 vs 4.0%), but the difference was not a significant one. CHD incidence cases in both IDDM and NIDDM groups were significantly related with longer duration of the disease and, when IDDM patients are concerned, with higher diastolic blood pressure.