The burden of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in India using the WHO 1999 criteria: prevalence of diabetes in India study (PODIS)

This random multistage cross-sectional population survey was undertaken to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in subjects aged 25 years and above in India. The study was carried out in 77 centers (40 urban and 37 rural). 18363 (9008 males and 9355 females) subjects were studied. 10617 (5379 males and 5238 females) were from urban areas and 7746 (3629 males and 4117 females) from rural areas. Blood samples were taken after a fast of 10-12 h and 2 h after 75 g of oral glucose. Subjects were categorized as having IGT or DM using the World Health Organisation (WHO) (1999) criteria. The standardized prevalence rate for DM in the total Indian, urban and rural populations was 4.3, 5.9 and 2.7%, respectively. The corresponding IGT rates in the three populations was 5.2, 6.3 and 3.7%, respectively. The urban prevalence of DM and IGT was significantly greater than in the rural population (P < 0.001 in both instances). The prevalence of DM was significantly, more than that of IGT (P < 0.001) within both the rural and urban populations. Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem is India.     

Undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose regulation in adult Ghanaians using the ADA and WHO diagnostic criteria

Fasting glucose and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) criteria for glucose homeostasis were compared in a cross-sectional cluster, community study in Accra, Ghana. A total of 4636 subjects without prior diagnosis of diabetes had fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour OGTT and measurement of cardiovascular risk factors. Mean age of subjects was 44.2 years; 39.1% of subjects were males. The overall prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes ascertained with both criteria was 4.5% (n=209). The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes by fasting (3,2%) and OGTT (3.1%) criteria were similar (p>0.05). The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (15.8%) was higher than that of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (10.7%). Only 56.5% (n=83) of subjects with diabetes by fasting criteria also had diabetes by OGTT criteria. Sixty-two subjects (42.8%) with diabetes by OGTT had normal or impaired fasting glucose. There was poor agreement between the two diagnostic criteria (kappa=0.31). The concordant normoglycaemic group was the youngest and had the lowest body-mass indey (BMI), waist girth, waist-hip ratio (WHR), total cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The concordant diabetic group, in contrast, had the highest BMI, waist girth, WHR, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Both systems gave similar undiagnosed diabetes rates bur dissimilar IFG and IGT rates. There was poor agreement between the two diagnostic criteria. Diagnostic criteria influenced cardiovascular risk factors. A case may be made for using both criteria in order to ascertain all “diabetes” and all “at-risk” subjects. Received: 4 January 2001 / Accepted in revised form: 18 January 2002     

The burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in an urban population of Sri Lanka

Aims

To describe the burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in middle‐aged residents (35–64 years) in an urban area of Sri Lanka.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area, from which 2986 participants (1349 men and 1637 women) were randomly selected from the electoral registry between January and December 2007. The participants underwent a physical examination and had their height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure measured by trained personnel. Fasting blood samples were taken for measurement of glucose, HbA_1c and lipids. The prevalence of diabetes (fasting plasma glucose > 7 mmol/l) and impaired fasting glycaemia (fasting plasma glucose 5.6–6.9 mmol/l) and major predictors of diabetes in Sri Lanka were estimated from the population‐based data.

Results

Age‐adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this urban population was 20.3% in men and 19.8% in women. Through the present screening, 263 patients with diabetes and 1262 with impaired fasting glucose levels were identified. The prevalence of newly detected diabetes was 35.7% of all patients with diabetes. Among patients with diabetes, only 23.8% were optimally controlled. In the regression models, high BMI, high waist circumference, high blood pressure and hypercholesterolaemia increased the fasting plasma glucose concentration, independent of age, sex and a family history of diabetes.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate the heavy burden of diabetes in this urban population. Short‐ and long‐term control strategies are required, not only for optimal therapy among those affected, but also for nationwide primary prevention of diabetes.     

High prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in urban Latin America: the CARMELA Study

Aims Cardiovascular risk is increased with glucose metabolism abnormalities. Prevalence data can support public health initiatives required to address this risk. The Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study was designed to estimate the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and related risk factors in seven urban Latin American populations. Methods CARMELA was a cross‐sectional, population‐based study of 11 550 adults 25–64 years of age. With a multi‐stage sample design of a probabilistic nature, approximately 1600 subjects were randomly selected in each city. Results Overall, the prevalence of diabetes was 7.0% (95% confidence intervals 6.5–7.6%). The prevalence of individuals with diabetes or impaired fasting glucose increased with increasing age. In the oldest age category, 55–64 years of age, prevalence of diabetes ranged from 9 to 22% and prevalence of impaired fasting glucose ranged from 3 to 6%. Only 16.3% of people with prior diagnosis of diabetes and who were receiving pharmacologic treatment, were in good glycaemic control (fasting glucose < 6.1 mmol/l). The prevalence of diabetes in individuals with abdominal obesity was approximately twofold higher. Participants with hypertension, elevated serum triglycerides and increased common carotid artery intima‐media thickness were also more likely to have diabetes. Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose is high in seven major Latin American cities; intervention is needed to avoid substantial medical and socio‐economic consequences. CARMELA supports the associations of abdominal obesity, hypertension, elevated serum triglycerides and carotid intima‐media thickness with diabetes.     

New criteria for impaired fasting glucose and screening for diabetes in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD) is the most frequent comorbidity in cystic fibrosis. Its clinical relevance is stressed by the association with increased mortality, and decreased pulmonary and nutritional status. An annual oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is recommended as a screening test for CFRD, but this is often not realised because of its time- and resource-consuming nature. Therefore, alternative approaches are welcome. In 2003, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) lowered the cut-off point separating normal from elevated fasting plasma glucose from <6.1 mmol x L(-1) to <5.6 mmol x L(-1), suggesting the performance of an OGTT only in those with impaired fasting glucose (IFG; range 5.6-6.0 mmol x L(-1)). The current authors tested whether this approach was reliable for the early identification of patients with CFRD. OGTTs from 1,128 patients (53% males; 47% females; median age 17.1 yrs) were available for analysis. A total of 101 (8.9%) OGTTs were classified as diabetic. The new ADA criteria for IFG increased the sensitivity to 82% (versus 65%) and decreased the specificity to 70% (versus 94%) compared with the old criteria used to identify patients with diabetic OGTTs. In conclusion, the American Diabetes Association approach of using impaired fasting glucose as an indication for performing selective oral glucose tolerance tests is definitely unsuitable when aiming at the early identification of patients with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus, and it cannot replace annual oral glucose tolerance tests.     

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and intermediate glucose abnormalities in obese patients based on ADA (1997) and WHO (1985) criteria.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of the 1997 ADA criteria for diagnosing diabetes mellitus and related glucose disturbances in comparison with the reference WHO 1985 criteria in obese subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 286 men and 881 women, 15-84 years of age, with obesity (body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m2), an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out according to WHO standard. Patients were classified into three categories of glucose tolerance using WHO 1985 (Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM)) and ADA (Normal Fasting Glucose (NFG), Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and DM) criteria. Prevalence of each category was compared and agreement between the two classifications was assessed. The relation between fasting plasma glucose value and diabetes, as diagnosed by WHO 1985 criteria, was studied using various regression models, cumulative frequency curves, Finch method and ROC curve. RESULTS: Compared with WHO 1985, ADA criteria strongly underestimated the prevalence rate of diabetes (3.7% vs. 10.6%) and intermediate glucose abnormalities (6.0% vs. 22.4%). Agreement between the two classifications was poor (kappa = 0.23). Moreover, many patients defined as glucose-intolerant by the WHO 1985 criteria were shifted to a more favourable metabolic status by ADA criteria. Thus, ADA criteria failed to detect 69% of WHO diabetic patients and 89% with IGT were considered as normal. According to the method, cut-off value of fasting blood glucose for detecting WHO 1985-diagnosed diabetes varied widely, from 5.3 to 6.3 mmol/l and none was satisfactory because of poor sensitivity and positive predictive value. CONCLUSION: The ADA criteria do not appear to be a good substitute for those of the WHO 1985 at identifying diabetes and intermediate glucose abnormalities in an obese population. Since it appears impossible to determine a reliable cut-off value for fasting blood glucose to identify diabetic obese subjects with sufficient sensitivity, our results justify the retention of the OGTT in clinical practice or for epidemiological studies.     

High prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in India: National Urban Diabetes Survey

Aims/hypothesis: There has been no reported national survey of diabetes in India in the last three decades, although several regional studies show a rising prevalence of diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in six major cities, covering all the regions of the country. Methods: Using a stratified random sampling method, 11 216 subjects (5288 men; 5928 women) aged 20 years or above, representative of all socio-economic strata, were tested by OGTT. Demographic, anthropometric, educational and social details were recorded using a standard proforma. Physical activity was categorised using a scoring system. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Glucose tolerance was classified using the 2-h values (WHO criteria). Prevalence estimations were made taking into account the stratified sampling procedure. Group comparisons were done by t-test or analysis of variance or Z-test as relevant. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to study the association of variables with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Results: Age standardised prevalences of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance were 12.1 % and 14.0 % respectively, with no gender difference. Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance showed increasing trend with age. Subjects under 40 years of age had a higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance than diabetes (12.8 % vs 4.6 %, p < 0.0001). Diabetes showed a positive and independent association with age, BMI, WHR, family history of diabetes, monthly income and sedentary physical activity. Age, BMI and family history of diabetes showed associations with impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusions/interpretation: This national study shows that the prevalence of diabetes is high in urban India. There is a large pool of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance at a high risk of conversion to diabetes. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 1094–1101] Received: 14 February 2001 and in revised form: 30 March 2001     

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose/glycaemia (IFG) in suburban and rural Nepal-the communities--based cross-sectional study during the democratic movements in 1990

A rising prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose/glycaemia (IFG) was recently reported in the urban areas of Nepal by Singh and Bhattarai [D.L. Singh, M.D. Bhattarai, High prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glycaemia in urban Nepal, Diabet. Med. 20 (2003) 170-171] in the first population-based study based on the revised diagnostic criteria of ADA-1997 and WHO-1998. In comparison with our community-based survey done in 1990 in suburban and rural areas of Nepal, the current data show a surprisingly rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the Nepalese population. In our 1990 study, diabetes and IFG, respectively, were present in 1.4 and 2.5% of people > or =20 years old in suburban village (Bhadrakali) compared with 0.3 and 0.7% in a rural village (Kotyang). In a short communication, Singh and Bhattarai found the rates to be 14.6 and 9.1% in urban areas, and 2.5 and 1.3% in rural areas. This phenomena appears to have been influenced more by rapid urbanization and changes in lifestyles after the ongoing democratic movements that have taken place since 1990 in Nepal. Moreover, our new analysis of the data provide baseline features for the planning of health care policy and establishment of medical priorities in modern day Nepal.     

Comparing the ADA 1997 and the WHO 1999 criteria: Prevalence of Diabetes in India Study

This random multistage cross-sectional population survey was undertaken to determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in subjects aged 25 years and above in India. The study was carried out in 77 centres (42 urban and 35 rural) to reflect the size and heterogeneity of the Indian population. 18,363 (9008 male and 9355 female) subjects were studied. 10,617 (5379 males and 5238 females) were from urban areas and 7746 (3629 males and 4117 females) from rural areas. Blood samples were taken after a fast of 10-12 and 2 h after 75 g of oral glucose. Subjects were categorized as having impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) or DM using the 1997 ADA or having impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or DM using the 1999 WHO criteria. The age- and gender-standardized prevalence rate for DM using the ADA criteria was 3.6% whilst that using the WHO criteria was 4.3% (P < 0.001). The respective standardized prevalence of DM, using the two criteria was, 4.7 and 5.6%, respectively (P < 0.001) in the urban Indian population and 2.0 and 2.7% (P < 0.02) in the rural Indian population. Using the WHO criteria, 581 subjects were newly diagnosed whilst the ADA criteria newly diagnosed 437 subjects. The respective numbers for the urban population were 425 and 323, and for the rural population were 146 and 114, respectively. The ADA criteria could diagnose 75.2, 76.0 and 73.0% of the subjects who had DM as per the WHO criteria. Of 739 Indian subjects who had IFG, 106 (14.3%) were diagnosed as having DM by the WHO criteria whilst 505 (68.3%) had values compatible with a diagnosis of IGT. Of the 536 urban subjects with IFG, 74 (13.8%) had DM and 350 (65.3%) had IGT using the WHO criteria. Of the 302 rural subjects with IFG, 32 (15.8%) had DM and 155 (76.3%) had IGT using the WHO criteria. 505 (49.9%) of 1012 Indian subjects with IGT as per the WHO criteria had IFG. 350 (47.7%) of 733 urban subjects and 155 (55.5%) of 279 rural subjects with IGT had values compatible with IFG as per the ADA criteria. Type 2 diabetes is a major health problem is India. The use of the ADA criteria would underestimate the prevalence of DM by not diagnosing subjects showing a poor response to a glucose challenge. This along with the discrepancies between subjects showing IGF or IGT could be a challenge to any prevention program.     

Short-term reproducibility of impaired fasting glycaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes The ADDITION study, DK

We evaluated variations in glucose measurements and the reproducibility of glucose tolerance classification in a high-risk screening setting in general practice. Screening for diabetes was performed in persons aged 40-69 years. Based on capillary fasting (FBG) and 2-h blood glucose (2 hBG) individuals with impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes had a second test done after 14 days. Intra-individual coefficients of variation (CV) were estimated in each glucose tolerance class using the approximation CV(2)(x)=var(ln(x)). Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreement were made. In the total population, the CV(intra) was 7.9% and 13.8% for FBG and 2 hBG, respectively. Limits of agreement ranged from -1.15 to 1.67 mmol/l for FBG and from - 2.62 to 3.27 mmol/l for 2 hBG. One individual with IFG and 22.5% with IGT had diabetes at the second test, 76.1% with diabetes had this diagnosis confirmed, and about 30% with IFG and IGT had normal glucose tolerance at the second test. The expected values of repeated capillary blood glucose measurements were about+/-1 and+/-3 mmol/l for FBG and 2 hBG, respectively. Yet, 70% of high-risk prediabetic individuals were persistently classified with abnormal glucose regulation; diabetes was confirmed in 76% of the cases.     

Screening for impaired fasting glucose and diabetes using available health plan data

AimsTo develop and validate prediction equations to identify individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes using existing health plan data.MethodsHealth plan data from 2005 to 2009 from 18,527 members of a Midwestern HMO without diabetes, 6% of whom had fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 110 mg/dL, and health plan data from 2005 to 2006 from 368,025 members of a West Coast-integrated delivery system without diabetes, 13% of whom had FPG ≥ 110 mg/dL were analyzed. Within each health plan, we used multiple logistic regression to develop equations to predict FPG ≥ 110 mg/dL for half of the population and validated the equations using the other half. We then externally validated the equations in the other health plan.ResultsAreas under the curve for the most parsimonious equations were 0.665 to 0.729 when validated internally. Positive predictive values were 14% to 32% when validated internally and 14% to 29% when validated externally.ConclusionMultivariate logistic regression equations can be applied to existing health plan data to efficiently identify persons at higher risk for dysglycemia who might benefit from definitive diagnostic testing and interventions to prevent or treat diabetes.     

Impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance in urban population in India.

AIMS: To study prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in urban Indians and their demographic and anthropometric characteristics. METHODS: Data on capillary blood glucose (OGTT), anthropometric and demography details were available in 10 025 subjects (M : F 4711 : 5314) aged > or = 20 years. Glucose tolerance was categorized as normal, isolated IFG, isolated IGT, IFG + IGT and diabetes using the fasting and 2-h blood glucose (2hBG; 75-g glucose load) values. Subjects with known diabetes were excluded. RESULTS: Age-standardized prevalences of IFG, IGT and newly detected diabetes were 8.7%, 8.1% and 13.9%, respectively. IFG was more prevalent in women (9.8%) than in men (7.4%) (chi2 = 13.62, P = 0.0002), while the gender differences in IGT (men 8.4%, women 7.9%) and diabetes (men 13.3%, women 14.3%) were not significant. Body mass index and waist circumference were higher in glucose-intolerant groups than in normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Prevalence of diabetes, IGT and IFG + IGT increased with age. Among the IFG, 4% had diabetes and 27.1% had IGT using 2hBG criteria. In IFG, the fasting and 2hBG values were not correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of IFG and IGT were similar in urban Indians and an overlap occurred in only less than half of these subjects. IFG was more common in women. Subjects with IFG were older and had more adverse anthropometric characteristics in comparison with NGT. IFG did not show an increasing trend with age.     

The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes defined by fasting and 2-h plasma glucose criteria in urban Nepal.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in people aged >/= 40 years in urban communities of Nepal, comparing the fasting and 2-h plasma glucose (PG) criteria for diagnosis of diabetes and to relate the prevalence to age, gender and hypertension. METHODS: Field surveys of fasting and 2-h PG and blood pressure (BP) were done by cluster sampling in seven urban populations of Nepal. Of 1180 eligible individuals invited, 1012 (85.7%) aged >/= 40 years participated. RESULT: The age and sex standardized prevalence of diabetes (known and newly diagnosed), IGT and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) were 19.0%, 10.6% and 9.9%, respectively. Of the total population, 30.5% (37.8% of men and 25.3% of women) had some abnormality of glucose tolerance. Of all diabetic individuals, 54.4% (53.8% of men and 55.1% of women) were undiagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes increased with age until the age of 75 years. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in men than in women (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) criterion compared with either FPG or 2-h PG or both criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes was 70.5%[95% confidence interval (CI) 60.7, 78.8] and the corresponding sensitivity of 2-h PG criterion was 79% (95% CI 69.8, 86.1). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of hypertension (BP >/= 140/90 mmHg) was 22.7%. Hypertension was less common in subjects with normal plasma glucose than in those with diabetes (18.8% vs. 36.7%). Similarly, of all subjects with hypertension, 29.1% had diabetes (known or newly diagnosed) and 43.0% had glucose intolerance of some form. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that diabetes and hypertension are common and related problems in people aged >/= 40 years in urban Nepal. The overall sensitivity of the 2-h PG criteria was greater than that of the FPG criteria for diagnosing diabetes, except in subjects aged >/= 60 years.     

Temporal changes in prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in urban southern India

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is increasing in urban areas of developing countries, especially in India. This is a report of the temporal changes in the prevalence of diabetes and IGT in urban areas of Chennai (Madras), India, in adults aged > or =20 years, with an emphasis on identifying the risk factors responsible for the changes. Three urban diabetic surveys conducted in 1989, 1995 and 2000 were compared for the age-standardized prevalence, anthropometric, demographic and lifestyle characteristics of the glucose-intolerant groups. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used for the identification of risk variables associated with diabetes and IGT. The trend was statistically significant for diabetes (chi(2)=18.0, P<0.001) and for IGT (chi(2)=48.2, P<0.001). The period between 1989 and 1995 showed a 40% rise in the prevalence of diabetes and a further increase of 16.4% in the next 5 years. Age increased in each survey for both genders. Waist girth and waist:hip ratio were significantly higher in women, in the 2000 survey. There was no change in the mean body mass index with time in both genders. An increase in IGT was seen in year 2000, especially so in subjects aged <40 years. The prevalence of diabetes and IGT is increasing in India. Increasing age and positive family history showed associations with diabetes.     

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose

OBJECTIVE: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by primary hyperparathyroidism, pituitary neoplasia and foregut lineage neuroendocrine tumours. It has also been associated with premature cardiovascular death. As diabetes is a risk factor for increased cardiovascular mortality we investigated the prevalence and clinical correlates of glycaemic abnormalities in a large MEN 1 kindred. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: The glycaemic status of 72 MEN 1 affected and 133 unaffected members of a single large MEN 1 pedigree was assessed. Fasting glucose results were categorized and compared using WHO criteria. Associations between glycaemic status and MEN 1 phenotype were assessed. RESULTS: Thirteen (18.1%) patients with MEN 1 compared to 5 (3.8%) control patients were diabetic (P < 0.001). Six (8.3%) MEN 1 patients had impaired fasting glucose compared to 4 (3%) of controls (P < 0.05). Of patients with MEN 1, uncontrolled hypercalcaemia (P < 0.05) and elevated serum gastrin (P < 0.05) were more common amongst patients diagnosed with abnormal glycaemia than those with normoglycaemia. There was a nonsignificant trend for elevated chromogranin A, pancreatic polypeptide, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (but not glucagon) and history of bronchopulmonary carcinoid in MEN 1 patients with elevated glycaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and impaired fasting glucose occur significantly more frequently amongst MEN 1 patients than controls and is associated with uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism and evidence of enteropancreatic hyperstimulation.