Summary Background Elevated blood pressure and glucose, serum cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); some of these factors also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes. We estimated CVD, CKD, and diabetes mortality attributable to these four cardio-metabolic risk factors for all countries and regions between 1980 and 2010. Methods We used data on risk factor exposure by country, age group, and sex from pooled analysis of population-based health surveys. Relative risks for cause-specific mortality were obtained from pooling of large prospective studies. We calculated the population attributable fractions (PAF) for each risk factor alone, and for the combination of all risk factors, accounting for multi-causality and for mediation of the effects of BMI by the other three risks. We calculated attributable deaths by multiplying the cause-specific PAFs by the number of disease-specific deaths from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2010 Study. We propagated the uncertainties of all inputs to the final estimates. Findings In 2010, high blood pressure was the leading risk factor for dying from CVDs, CKD, and diabetes in every region, causing over 40% of worldwide deaths from these diseases; high BMI and glucose were each responsible for about 15% of deaths; and cholesterol for 10%. After accounting for multi-causality, 63% (10.8 million deaths; 95% confidence interval 10.1–11.5) of deaths from these diseases were attributable to the combined effect of these four metabolic risk factors, compared with 67% (7.1 million deaths; 6.6–7.6) in 1980. The mortality burden of high BMI and glucose nearly doubled between 1980 and 2010. At the country level, age-standardised death rates attributable to these four risk factors surpassed 925 deaths per 100,000 among men in Belarus, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, but were below 130 deaths per 100,000 for women and below 200 for men in some high-income countries like Japan, Singapore, South Korea, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Australia, and Canada. Interpretations The salient features of the cardio-metabolic epidemic at the beginning of the twenty-first century are the large role of high blood pressure and an increasing impact of obesity and diabetes. There has been a shift in the mortality burden from high-income to low- and middle-income countries.

Background Data are sparse on the safety and efficacy of commercially available energy-restricted meal plans in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined the safety and efficacy of a commercially available low-energy diet in insulin-treated obese men with type 2 diabetes. Methods Eighteen men ≥ 35 years old who had class III obesity, had received insulin treatment for ≥ 1 year for type 2 diabetes, and had glycated hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 6.5% were randomized to receive either a low-energy diet (N = 9) or standard medical nutrition intervention (N = 9) for 6 months. Results Compared with 1.5% (± 3.55) in the control group, the mean percentage weight loss in the intervention group at 6 months was 9.6% (±4.91) (p < 0.01). Complete and partial diabetes remission occurred in one subject each in the intervention group and no subjects in the control group. Mean glycated Hb levels were 8.9% (± 2.76) and 9.1% (± 1.53) (p = NS) at baseline and 6.5% (± 0.64) and 7.4% (± 1.12) (p = 0.0606) at 6 months for the intervention and control groups, respectively. Compared with 0.85 mmol/L at baseline, the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level in the intervention group at 6 months increased to 0.96 mmol/L (p < 0.01) while it remained unchanged in the control group. Conclusions Among obese men with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, compared with standard medical nutrition, 6 months of a low-energy diet resulted in complete diabetes remission in one subject and partial remission in another while improving diabetes control and decreasing the median daily dose of insulin in the remainder.

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Background: Hypothyroidism is a common clinical condition confronting all healthcare practitioners yet there remains uncertainty about the optimal medication and optimum treatment targets. In addition, many patients remain symptomatic despite using recommended medications and attaining recommended treatment targets.Methods: All endocrinologists in South Africa who consented to be part of the guideline process were assigned various aspects of the management of patients with thyroid disease. In each section the current literature was reviewed and the level of evidence was graded. This information was then presented at a guideline meeting. Where evidence was lacking a consensus among participants was adopted.Results: This guideline provides 11 recommendations for the management of primary hypothyroidism, secondary hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism in adults.Conclusions: This is the first South African guideline for the management of hypothyroidism in adults and represents a comprehensive review of the current literature in an attempt to provide evidence-based guidance for all healthcare practitioners regarding the many clinical aspects encountered when managing patients with hypothyroidism