Objective: Diabetes is a main cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes on cardiovascular risk using prediction equations.
Patients and methods: The cardiovascular risk of 356 diabetics was calculated from the prediction equations established by the Framingham, Ducimetière, Laurier-Chau and PROCAM studies, with and without the factor "diabetes". Calculations were made according to the conditions of each equation then by applying formulae to the whole population.
Discussion: Diabetes increased the cardiovascular risk at 4 years from 0.7% with the Ducimetière equation to 3.6% to 8% with the Framingham equation. Formulae increased the cardiovascular risk when they were applied to the whole population. Models of prediction did not take into account however duration of diabetes and balance, parameters which are closely linked to cardiovascular risks.
Conclusion: Absolute cardiovascular risk, whose practical interest has often been underlined, therefore has limitations in diabetes.