Metabolic Syndrome and Atherosclerotic Risk Factors as Determinants of Blood Sugar Control in Diabetic Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Somlak Chuengsamarn MD*, Suthee Rattanamongkoulgul MD**
Affiliation : * Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakornnayok, Thailand ** Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakornnayok, Thailand
Objective : To examine the effects of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic risk factors on blood sugar
control in diabetic patients.
Material and Method: This present retrospective cohort study of two hundreds of medical records of diabetes
patients treated at the outpatient internal medicine department during the year 2006-2007. Data were
collected using a case record form containing biochemical profile characteristics of patients and metabolic
components by the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The affecting factors to optimal treatment
were analyzed to give descriptive (percent = %, mean, SD, median, range) and inferential statistics
(odds ratio = OR).
Results : There were 200 diabetic patients included in the present study with males of 30.5% and females of
69.5%. Patients who have a higher number of components of criteria of metabolic syndrome tend to
have difficulties in controlling their blood sugar (OR for 4 vs. < 3 components: 4.78 95% CI = 1.14-19.97).
Patients with younger age groups are more likely to fail to control their blood sugar with OR of 3.87
(95% CI = 1.53-9.76).
Conclusion : Diabetic patients who have higher components of metabolic syndrome and younger age tend to
have difficulties in controlling their blood sugar. However, the association between having atherosclerotic
risk factors and outcome of blood sugar control is inconclusive and needs further studies with a larger sample
size.
Keywords : Metabolic syndrome, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Type 2 DM, Atherosclerotic, Risk factor
