Risk factors and complications in type 2 diabetes outpatients

Ellen Fernandes Flávio Silva, Cristiane Maria Mendes Ferreira, Lucineia de Pinho

Our study investigated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients attending a university hospital in Montes Claros, MG, to estimate the prevalence of risk factors and their association with diabetes complications. This was a quantitative, documental, retrospective and analytical study. Medical records of 95 outpatients with T2DM treated in this hospital from 2011 to 2015 were analyzed. Data were collected according to a structured questionnaire surveying sociodemographic, anthropometric and biochemical data and clinical and lifestyle aspects. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between risk factor variables and complications. With a mean age of 54 years, the study population showed irregular blood glucose control, despite the use of hypoglycemic medication, and did not have a healthy lifestyle. The main complication reported was high blood pressure (HBP), occurring in 70.9% of patients. The prevalence of complications was positively associated with patients receiving insulin treatment (p=0.042) and multidisciplinary monitoring (p=0.050). The associations identified reflect the condition of patients that were already treating diabetes and its complications, especially HBP. The characteristics of the study population indicate the need to improve clinical follow-up and increase motivation for healthy behaviors.