Prevalence of vascular risk factors in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to hospital for stroke in the 2011–2013 period

Abstract

IntroductionStroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Europe. ObjectiveTo describe the vascular risk factors most prevalent in the Spanish population with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to hospital for a stroke during the 2011–2013 period. Material and methodsUsing the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set from 2011 to 2013, a descriptive, observational epidemiological study was conducted comparing the prevalence rates of vascular risk factors in Spanish patients admitted to hospital for stroke. The sample was stratified by the presence or absence of a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Other variables studied included in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and other clinical and sociodemographic variables. ResultsHypertension was the most prevalent vascular risk factor in all population groups. Female sex, age, and T2DM had a statistically significant association (p<0.05) to hospital mortality in stroke. ConclusionsHypertension was the most common vascular risk factor in the study sample, followed by hypercholesterolemia. There were no differences in prevalence of hypertension between patients with and without T2DM. However, T2DM is an independent risk factor for hospital mortality in any hospitalization for stroke.