THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

The hypothesis that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in p eople with diabetes is inversely related to socio-economic status was tested. Demographic and biochemical data were collected on 1246 patien ts, aged 20-69 years, attending a hospital diabetes clinic. This is es timated to represent between 71 % and 78 % of all people of this age w ith a diagnosis of diabetes in the health authority. in total, 296 peo ple were classified as Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients (a ge of onset <31, now on insulin). Using data from the 1991 census a de privation score was ascribed to each individual according to their are a (enumeration district) of residence. The total study population was ranked by deprivation score and divided into quintiles. The relationsh ips between means and quintiles of deprivation were assessed by ANOVA for linear trend, and between proportions and quintiles of deprivation by the chi-squared test for trend. In Type 1 diabetes increasing quin tiles of deprivation were significantly related to mean serum choleste rol (p < 0.01) and proportion smoking (p < 0.01), and in Type 2 (non-i nsulin dependent) diabetes to mean body mass index (p < 0.001), propor tion smoking (p < 0.001), and proportion with proteinuria (p < 0.05). The need for health measures to prevent cardiovascular disease in peop le with diabetes is greatest in deprived areas.