Suboptimal control of glycemia, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol in overweight adults with diabetes: the Look AHEAD Study.

Overview

abstract

BACKGROUND: The characteristics associated with meeting goals for glycemia, blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for participants with diabetes were examined. METHODS: Baseline information on demographics, medical history, and anthropometry, as well as on hemoglobin A1c, BP, and LDL cholesterol levels, was measured in 5145 participants of Look AHEAD, a multicenter randomized trial performed to determine whether long-term weight loss and increased physical fitness reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Logistic regression was used to analyze these cross-sectional data to ascertain associations between participant characteristics and attainment of risk factor goals [hemoglobin A1c <7.0%, BP <130/80 mmHg, and LDL <100 mg/dl]. RESULTS: The study population had a mean age of 58.7 years and a mean body mass index of 36.0 kg/m(2). Of the total number of participants, 59.5% were female, 36.8% were of ethnic/racial minority, and 87.3% were on diabetes medications. Upon enrollment, 45.8% had hemoglobin A1c<7.0%, 51.7% had BP<130/80 mmHg, and 37.2% had LDL<100 mg/dl. All three goals were met by only 10.1%. We found consistent evidence for differences in risk factor control by age, gender, race/ethnicity, degree of obesity, education, income, CVD, source of medical care, and medication use. In multivariable analysis, African-American race, increasing degree of obesity, insulin use, and nonutilization of a lipid-lowering agent were associated with not meeting all risk factor goals. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that numerous baseline characteristics are associated with suboptimal control of these cardiovascular risk factors among overweight and obese adults with diabetes.