Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran

The aim of this study in 2006–08 was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of CVD in an Iranian population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. History and physical examinations were recorded and laboratory tests were performed in 752 patients attending the Mashhad Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center. The prevalence of CVD was 20.1%. CVD was significantly associated with age, duration of diabetes, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, metabolic syndrome, renal insufficiency, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, uric acid and triglycerides/HDL ratio. Using a logistic regression model, age, metabolic syndrome and HDL cholesterol were significant independent predictors of CVD. The high prevalence of CVD in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes underscores the importance of better detection and treatment of metabolic risk factors of CVD in these patients.