Clustering of coronary artery disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance

A cross-sectional study in Isfahan city, Islamic Republic of Iran, compared the frequency of coronary artery disease risk factors in known and newly diagnosed diabetic patients and individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) with normal individuals. The prevalence of known cases of diabetes, new cases of diabetes and cases with IGT in the general population sample of 3940 were 4.3%, 1.1%, and 6.2% respectively. The frequency of dyslipidaemia was significantly different comparing diabetics and normal individuals. There was a significantly higher prevalence of risk factors (i.e. increased body mass index or waist circumference accompanied by dyslipidaemia) in the female population. The study highlights the importance of defining strategies for prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes in the community.