LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE WESTERN AREA OF SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

SUMMARY The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of longterm complications and of major risk factors for the development of these complications in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus from the western area of Saudi Arabia. A total of 100 files of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, 38 male and 62 female, seen between June and December 2000 at Doctor Bakhsh’s hospital in the north of Jedeh, a western area of Saudi Arabia, were analyzed. All patient records were reviewed for long-term complications, i.e. retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy (microvascular complications), and for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases (macrovascular complications), according to the following variables: patient age, sex, duration of diabetes, blood pressure and blood glucose. Survey of 100 patient files revealed 40 patients to be free from complications, whereas various complications were present in 60 patients: retinopathy in 7, nephropathy in 2, neuropathy in 6 patients; 9 patients had multiple microvascular complications, and 30 patients had both microvascular and macrovascular complications; 4 patients had cardiovascular complication only; 1 had cerebrovascular complication, and 1 had peripheral vascular complication only. Accordingly, the prevalence of diabetic complications was within the range of complications reported from other parts of the world, from the region and from different studies conducted elsewhere in Saudi Arabia. The presence of diabetic complications correlated with the duration of diabetes, glycemic control, body mass index and hypertension, most of which are modifiable risk factors.