Prevalence and Association of Microvascular Complications with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in People with Type 2 Diabetes in The Gulf Region: Results from the PACT-MEA Study

Background and aims: To establish the burden of microvascular complications and their relationship with established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (eASCVD) and ASCVD risk in participants with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Methods and results:The study was a sub-analysis of the PACT-MEA study and included data from 1062 adult participants with T2D from Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.Demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and laboratory measures were extracted from participants' medical records.The overall prevalence of one or more microvascular complications (MC) was 34.9% and did not vary by country: 35.0% in Bahrain, 32.6% in Kuwait and 37.3% in Qatar (p=0.427).The prevalence of MC was 38.9% in participants with eASCVD and 37.3% in those with ASCVD risk.The prevalence of retinopathy and neuropathy was significantly higher in participants with hypertension and dyslipidemia (p<0.05). Conclusion:Microvascular complications are common in individuals with T2D in the Gulf region and are associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia and those at high risk of ASCVD.