La diabetes mellitus (DM) es un factor de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular aterosclerótica (ECVA). Esta asociación no ha sido cuantificada en la población chilena. Objetivo: Comparar la frecuencia de ECVA entre pacientes diabéticos (PD) y no diabéticos (PND) chilenos. Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal con datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2009-2010. La DM se diagnosticó con glicemia de ayuno. La ECVA (coronaria, encefálica y periférica) fue establecida por autoreporte. Factores clásicos de riesgo cardiovascular fueron identificados por valoración clínica y de laboratorio. Resultados: Se analizaron 5.416 adultos (2.200 hombres y 3.116 mujeres). De estos, 508 eran diabéticos y 375 reportaron ECVA. La frecuencia de ECVA fue 16,1% en PD y 6,1% en PND. En diabéticos hombre, la frecuencia de ECVA aumentó sostenidamente con la edad, desde 5,1% a 22,1%. En PD mujer, la mayor frecuencia de ECVA (17,4%) se reportó entre los 45 años y 54 años. En menores de 54 años, la razón de chance de ECVA en PD fue 3,59 en hombres (?2 = 4,03 pBackground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) risk factor. This association has yet to be quantified in the Chilean population. Aim: To compare the frequency of ACVD between diabetic and non-diabetic Chilean subjects. Material and methods: Data was extracted from the Chile National Health Survey (ENS) performed in 2009-2010. DM diagnosis was made with fasting glucose. ACVD (coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease) was established by self-report. Major cardiovascular risk factors were identified by clinical and laboratory assessment. Results: A total of 5,416 adults (2,200 men and 3,216 women) were surveyed in ENS2009-2010. Of these, 508 were diabetic and 375 reported ACVD. ACVD frequency was 16.1 and 6.1% in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, respectively. In diabetic men, the frequency of ACVD steadily increased with age, from 5.1 % to 22.1 %. In diabetic women, the highest frequency of ACVD (17.4 %) was found in ages ranging from 45 to 54 years. In people younger than 54 years, the odds ratio for ACVD in diabetic compared to non-diabetic subjects, was 3.59 in men (?2 = 4.03 p < 0.03) and 5.26 in women (?2 = 7.7 p < 0.007). Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were significantly more common in diabetic subjects with reported ACVD. Conclusions: DM is associated with an increased frequency of ACVD and cardiovascular risk factors in Chilean adults. In line with international reports, our findings suggest that DM is also a cardiovascular risk factor in Chile, particularly relevant for women.