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Objectives Achieving glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and blood pressure targets is an important strategy for preventing chronic vascular complications in diabetes. Our aim in this study was to determine the proportion of type 2 diabetes patients who meet the recommended A1C and arterial blood pressure targets and to identify the determinants of failure to do so. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient endocrine clinic at a university hospital. The A1C goal was 7% in general and 8% for patients with advanced chronic complications. Regarding blood pressure, the overall expected target was 140/90 mmHg. Results A total of 602 type 2 diabetes patients were analyzed: 62% were female, 14% self-reported as black, mean age was 63±11 years, mean diabetes duration was 17±9 years and median A1C was 8.0% (interquartile range, 7.0% to 9.5%). Macrovascular disease was present in 33% of the patients, diabetic retinopathy in 47%, peripheral neuropathy in 43% and diabetic kidney disease in 56%. Regarding metabolic control, 403 (67%) patients were not at the adjusted target A1C level, and being female, black, young and an insulin user were the main determinants of poor glycemic control. Regarding blood pressure, 348 (58%) patients were not at the recommended targets, and a more advanced age was the main associated factor. Conclusions Because more than half of type 2 diabetes outpatients do not meet the recommended A1C and blood pressure target values, there is a major call to overcome the therapeutic inertia and target treatment of patients on an individual basis.

Background: Achieving HbA1c and blood pressure targets is an important strategy for preventing chronic vascular complications in diabetes. The aim of this paper was to determine the proportion of type 2 diabetes patients who meet the recommended HbA1c and arterial blood pressure targets and the determinants of failure to do so.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient endocrine clinic at a university hospital. HbA1c was measured with a certified HPLC method, with a goal of 7%, except for patients with advanced chronic complications where 8% was the goal. Blood pressure was measured with a validated device after a 5-minute rest, and the overall expected target was 140/90 mmHg. Results: A total of 602 type 2 diabetes patients were analyzed: 62% were female, 14% self-reported as black, the mean age was 63±11 years, the mean diabetes duration was 17±9 years, and the median (IQR) HbA1c was 8.0% (7.0-9.5%). Macrovascular disease was present in 198 (33%) patients, diabetic retinopathy in 283 (47%), peripheral neuropathy in 258 (43%) and diabetes kidney disease in 337 (56%). Regarding metabolic control, 403 (67%) patients were not at the adjusted target HbA1c level, and the main determinants of poor glycemic control were female gender, black skin color, younger age, and insulin use. Regarding blood pressure, 348 (58%) patients were not at the recommended targets, and a more advanced age was the main associated factor. Conclusions: Since more than half of Brazilian type 2 diabetes outpatients do not meet the recommended HbA1c and blood pressure target values, there is a major call to overcome therapeutic inertia and treat to target each individual patient. Female, black and younger individuals seem to be associated with a worse glycemic profile.

Late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) is one of the most reliable tests to screen for endogenous Cushing syndrome. This test is simple, inexpensive and noninvasive and has high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of our study was to analyze the putative influence of age, gender and body mass index (BMI) on LNSC levels in a healthy population.Cross-sectional study conducted in healthy adults. Midnight saliva samples were collected at home. Participants refrained from teeth brushing, eating or drinking for 2 h prior to collection. Salivary cortisol measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital (number 140073).We evaluated 122 nonsmoking healthy volunteers. Mean age was 35±14 years (range, 18-74 years); 63% were women. Mean BMI was 24±3 kg/m2, blood pressure 115/74 mmHg and fasting plasma glucose 4.8±0.5 mmol/L. LNSC presented a non-Gaussian distribution; the median was 3.58 (range, 0.55-8.55) nmol/L (0.13 [range, 0.02-0.31] μg/dL), and the 97.5th percentile (P97.5) was 8.3 nmol/L (0.3 μg/dL). Multiple linear regression disclosed a significant positive association between salivary cortisol levels and age (r2=0.21, p0.001), but no association with gender (p=0.105) or BMI (p=0.119). Accordingly, participants aged50 years had significantly higher salivary cortisol as compared to those aged50 years (5.24 nmol/L [0.19 μg/dL] vs. 3.31 nmol/L [0.12 μg/dL], respectively, p0.001).The maximum reference value (P97.5) of LNSC was set at 8.3 nmol/L (0.3 μg/dL) using ECLIA. Advanced age was associated with higher LNSC levels, with no evident influence of gender or BMI.

Materials and methods 606 type 2 diabetes patients, outpatient Endocrine clinic, tertiary hospital, consecutively included between 20122014. Medical history, complete examination and laboratory evaluation performed (HbA1c, lipids, glomerular filtration rate -eGFRand urinary albumin excretion-UAE). Therapeutic targets defined according to American Diabetes Association: HbA1c