NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Effects of diabetes definition on global surveillance of diabetes prevalence and diagnosis: a pooled analysis of 96 population-based studies with 331,288 participants

External validation of three diabetes prediction scores in a Spanish cohort: does adding high risk for depression improve the validation of the FINDRISC score (FINDRISC-MOOD)?

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the external validity of the FINDRISC, DESIR and ADA risk scores for the prediction of diabetes in a Spanish population aged >45 years and to test the possible improvement of FINDRISC by adding a new variable of high risk of depression when Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) questionnaire score ≥10 (FINDRISC-MOOD).

DESIGN

Prospective population-based cohort study.

SETTING

10 primary healthcare centres in the north of the city of Madrid (Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1242 participants without a history of diabetes and with 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) plasma glucose <200 mg/dL (<11.1 mmol/L) were followed up for 7.3 years (median) using their electronic health records (EHRs) and telephone contact.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Diabetes risk scores (FINDRISC, DESIR, ADA), PHQ-9 questionnaire and 2-hour-OGTT were measured at baseline. Incident diabetes was defined as treatment for diabetes, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL (≥7.0 mmol/L), new EHR diagnosis or self-reported diagnosis. External validation was performed according to optimal cut-off, sensitivity, specificity and Youden Index. Comparison between diabetes risk scores, including FINDRISC-MOOD (original FINDRISC score plus five points if PHQ-9 ≥10), was measured by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

During follow-up, 104 (8.4%; 95% CI, 6.8 to 9.9) participants developed diabetes and 185 had a PHQ-9 score ≥10. The AUROC values were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0.72) for FINDRISC-MOOD and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.71) for the original FINDRISC. The AUROCs for DESIR and ADA were 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.68) and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.69), respectively. There were no significant differences in AUROC between FINDRISC-MOOD and the other scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of FINDRISC-MOOD were like those of the other risk scores and do not allow it to be recommended for clinical use.

Diagnostic cut-off value of haemoglobin A1c for diabetes mellitus in Harare, Zimbabwe

Very little is known about the diagnostic performance of the American Diabetes Association glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) cut-off of 6.5% in resource-limited settings. This study, conducted between February 2023 and May 2023, aimed to determine the optimal HbA1c cut-off for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by measuring HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels in 120 adults attending care at a tertiary hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. The optimal HbA1c cut-off was 6.1% and glucose levels were strongly correlated with HbA1c values. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was higher (28.3%) at our derived HbA1c cut-off than with the American Diabetes Association criterion (21.6%).

What this study adds

This study highlights the need for population-specific cut-off HbA1c values in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

HIV and type 2 diabetes: An evolving story

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is widely reported to be more common in people living with HIV (PLWH). Much of the data supporting this originated during the earlier HIV era. The perceived increased risk of type 2 diabetes is reflected in HIV clinical guidelines that recommend screening for diabetes in PLWH on anti-retroviral therapy (ART). However, international HIV clinical guidelines do not agree on the best marker of glycaemia to screen for diabetes. This stems from studies that suggest HbA1c underestimates glycaemia in PLWH.

METHODS

Within this review we summarise the literature surrounding the association of HIV and type 2 diabetes and how this has changed over time. We also present the evidence on HbA1c discrepancy in PLWH.

CONCLUSION

We suggest there is no basis to any international guidelines to restrict HbA1c based on HIV serostatus. We recommend, using the current evidence, that PLWH should be screened annually for diabetes in keeping with country specific guidance. Finally, we suggest future work to elucidate phenotype and natural history of type 2 diabetes in PLWH across all populations.

Incidence of T2DM and the role of baseline glycaemic status as a determinant in a metropolitan population in northern Madrid (Spain)

AIM

To estimate the incidence of T2DM and assess the effect of pre-T2DM (isolated impaired fasting glucose [iIFG], isolated impaired glucose tolerance [iIGT] or both) on progress to T2DM in the adult population of Madrid.

METHODS

Population-based cohort comprising 1,219 participants (560 normoglycaemic and 659 preT2DM [418 iIFG, 70 iIGT or 171 IFG-IGT]). T2DM was defined based on fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c or use of glucose-lowering medication. We used a Cox model with normoglycaemia as reference category.

RESULTS

During 7.26 years of follow-up, the unadjusted incidence of T2DM was 11.21 per 1000 person-years (95 %CI, 9.09-13.68) for the whole population, 5.60 (3.55-8.41) for normoglycaemic participants and 16.28 (12.78-20.43) for pre-T2DM participants. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the baseline glycaemic status was associated with higher primary effect on developing T2DM was iIGT (HR = 3.96 [95 %CI, 1.93-8.10]) and IFG-IGT (3.42 [1.92-6.08]). The HR for iIFG was 1.67 (0.96-2.90). Obesity, as secondary effect, was strongly significantly associated (HR = 2.50 [1.30-4.86]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our incidence of T2DM is consistent with that reported elsewhere in Spain. While baseline iIGT and IFG-IGT behaved a primary effect for progression to T2DM, iIFG showed a trend in this direction.

How Could Taxes on Sugary Drinks and Foods Help Reduce the Burden Of Type 2 Diabetes?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Taxes on sugary drinks and foods have emerged as a key strategy to counteract the alarming levels of diabetes worldwide. Added sugar consumption from industrialized foods and beverages has been strongly linked to type 2 diabetes. This review provides a synthesis of evidence on how taxes on sugary products can influence the onset of type 2 diabetes, describing the importance of the different mechanisms through which the consumption of these products is reduced, leading to changes in weight and potentially a decrease in the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Observational studies have shown significant reductions in purchases, energy intake, and body weight after the implementation of taxes on sugary drinks or foods. Simulation studies based on the association between energy intake and type 2 diabetes estimated the potential long-term health and economic effects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, suggesting that the implementation of sugary food and beverage taxes may have a meaningful impact on reducing type 2 diabetes and complications. Public health response to diabetes requires multi-faceted approaches from health and non-health actors to drive healthier societies. Population-wide strategies, such as added sugar taxes, highlight the potential benefits of financial incentives to address behaviors and protective factors to significantly change an individual's health trajectory and reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes worldwide, both in terms of economy and public health.

Large scale application of the Finnish diabetes risk score in Latin American and Caribbean populations: a descriptive study

Background

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase in the Americas. Identifying people at risk for T2D is critical to the prevention of T2D complications, especially cardiovascular disease. This study gauges the ability to implement large population-based organized screening campaigns in 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries to detect people at risk for T2D using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC).

Methods

This cross-sectional descriptive analysis uses data collected in a sample of men and women 18 years of age or older who completed FINDRISC via eHealth during a Guinness World Record attempt campaign between October 25 and November 1, 2021. FINDRISC is a non-invasive screening tool based on age, body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, daily intake of fruits and vegetables, history of hyperglycemia, history of antihypertensive drug treatment, and family history of T2D, assigning a score ranging from 0 to 26 points. A cut-off point of ≥ 12 points was considered as high risk for T2D.

Results

The final sample size consisted of 29,662 women (63%) and 17,605 men (27%). In total, 35% of subjects were at risk of T2D. The highest frequency rates (FINDRISC ≥ 12) were observed in Chile (39%), Central America (36.4%), and Peru (36.1%). Chile also had the highest proportion of people having a FINDRISC ≥15 points (25%), whereas the lowest was observed in Colombia (11.3%).

Conclusions

FINDRISC can be easily implemented via eHealth technology over social networks in Latin American and Caribbean populations to detect people with high risk for T2D. Primary healthcare strategies are needed to perform T2D organized screening to deliver early, accessible, culturally sensitive, and sustainable interventions to prevent sequelae of T2D, and reduce the clinical and economic burden of cardiometabolic-based chronic disease.

Impact of diabetes on longevity and disability-free life expectancy among older South African adults: A prospective longitudinal analysis

AIMS

We seek to understand the coexisting effects of population aging and a rising burden of diabetes on healthy longevity in South Africa.

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from the 2015 and 2018 waves of the "Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa" (HAALSI) study to explore life expectancy (LE) and disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of adults aged 45 and older with and without diabetes in rural South Africa. We estimated LE and DFLE by diabetes status using Markov-based microsimulation.

RESULTS

We find a clear gradient in remaining LE and DFLE based on diabetes status. At age 45, a man without diabetes could expect to live 7.4 [95% CI 3.4 - 11.7] more years than a man with diabetes, and a woman without diabetes could expect to live 3.9 [95% CI: 0.8 - 6.9] more years than a woman with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes lived proportionately more years subject to disability than individuals without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

We find large and important decrements in disability-free aging for people with diabetes in South Africa. This finding should motivate efforts to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts for diabetes and its complications for older adults in this setting.

A three step protocol for the development of an innovative footwear (shoe and sensor based insole) to prevent diabetic foot ulceration

Background

The incidence of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is increasing worldwide. Therapeutic footwear is usually recommended in clinical practice for preventing foot ulcers in persons with diabetes. The project Science DiabetICC Footwear aims to develop innovative footwear to prevent DFU, specifically a shoe and sensor-based insole, which will allow for monitoring pressure, temperature, and humidity parameters.

Method

This study presents a three-step protocol for the development and evaluation of this therapeutic footwear, specifically: (i) a first observational study will specify the user requirements and contexts of use; (ii) after the design solutions were developed for shoe and insole, the semi-functional prototypes will be evaluated against the initial requirements; (iii) and a pre-clinical study protocol will enable the evaluation of the final functional prototype. The eligible diabetic participants will be involved in each stage of product development. The data will be collected using interviews, clinical evaluation of the foot, 3D foot parameters and plantar pressure evaluation. This three-step protocol was defined according to the national and international legal requirements, ISO norms for medical devices development, and was also reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E) of the Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC).

Results

The involvement of end-users (diabetic patients) will enable the definition of user requirements and contexts of use to develop design solutions for the footwear. Those design solutions will be prototyped and evaluated by end-users to achieve the final design for therapeutic footwear. The final functional prototype will be evaluated in pre-clinical studies to ensure that the footwear meets all the requirements to move forward to clinical studies.

Discussion

The three-step study outlined in this protocol will provide the necessary insights during the product development, ensuring this new therapeutic footwear's main functional and ergonomic features for DFU prevention.

Pros and Cons of Current Diagnostic Tools for Risk-Based Screening of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity

It is still a matter of debate which is the most suitable diagnostic test for risk-based screening of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. This review highlighted benefits and pitfalls of currently recommended screening tools (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT], glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]). The greatest advantage of OGTT is the ability to detect people with impaired glucose tolerance, a subcategory at high risk of developing both T2D and cardiovascular disease. Important disadvantages are low reproducibility and inconvenience. FPG measurement is more practical, as it needs only one blood draw, although both OGTT and FPG require fasting. The reliability of HbA1c as a screening tool has been questioned, especially in children and adolescents, but its undeniable convenience can lead to increased adherence to screening. In contrast, it can be altered by several nonglycemic factors. Importantly, none of these tests have been validated in the pediatric population. Alternative tests have been recently proposed, including new OGTT-derived biomarkers and additional nonfasting glycemic markers. In conclusion, when choosing the most suitable test in clinical practice, advantages and disadvantages should be considered, as well as the possibility of performing different tests at once.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosis in young adult preceded by years of elevated postprandial and fasting glucose but normal HbA1c: A clinical example of discordance

Herein, a case study of an individual with fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) measures from the 3 years preceding their type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosis is used to highlight discordance among these common diagnostic tests. Data from the patient's own records, participation in clinical research, and healthcare provider were collated. Measures of FBG (90-160 mg/dL) and PBG (195-247 mg/dL) were elevated for 3 years with a normal HbA1c (5.0-5.4%) and without any symptoms. Overt symptoms, including polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss, manifested 3 years later prompting the patient to contact their physician. Testing revealed an elevated HbA1c (9.8%) and presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD) (9 IU/mL). Daily body composition measures and weighed food logs from the 3 months preceding and 4 months after diagnosis illustrate the effects of glucose spilling and inadequate insulin levels. Both FBG and PBG indicated diabetes 3 years prior to HbA1c. While FBG, PBG, and HbA1c are considered equally appropriate for screening and diagnosing diabetes, this case study highlights the need to revisit important distinctions between these tests that explain their frequent discordance.

Risk of Macrovascular and Microvascular Disease in Diabetes Diagnosed Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test With and Without Confirmation by Hemoglobin A1c: The Whitehall II Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether replacing oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement for diagnosing diabetes is justified. We aimed to assess the proportion of OGTT-diagnosed diabetes cases that can be confirmed by HbA1c and to examine whether individuals with OGTT diagnosis but nondiagnostic HbA1c are at higher risk of macrovascular and microvascular disease.

METHODS

Participants were 5773 men and women from the population-based Whitehall II prospective cohort study in the United Kingdom. New OGTT diabetes cases diagnosed in clinical examinations in 2002 to 2004 and 2007 to 2009 were assessed for HbA1c confirmation (≥6.5%) in these and subsequent clinical examinations in 2012 to 2013 and 2015 to 2016. All participants were followed up for major cardiovascular events through linkage to electronic health records until 2017 and for incident chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL·min^-1·1.73 m^-2) until the last clinical examination. In analysis of vascular disease risk, new OGTT-diagnosed diabetes cases with and without diagnostic HbA1c and preexisting diabetes cases were compared with diabetes-free participants.

RESULTS

Of the 378 (59.3%) participants with OGTT-diagnosed diabetes, 224 were confirmed by HbA1c during 4.1 years (SD, 4.1 years) of follow-up. We recorded 942 cardiovascular events over 12.1 years. After adjustment for nonmodifiable risk factors and compared with the 4997 diabetes-free participants, 371 participants with new HbA1c-confirmed diabetes and 405 participants with preexisting diabetes had increased risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.12-2.10] and 1.85 [95% CI, 1.50-2.28], respectively). The corresponding hazard ratios in the analysis of incident chronic kidney disease (487 cases; follow-up, 6.6 years) were 1.69 (95% CI, 1.09-2.62) for 282 participants with new HbA1c-confirmed diabetes and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.22-2.28) for 276 participants with preexisting diabetes. In both analyses, OGTT cases with nondiagnostic HbA1c (n=149 and 107) had a risk (hazard ratio, 0.99-1.07) similar to that of the diabetes-free population.

CONCLUSIONS

More than 40% of OGTT-diagnosed diabetes cases were not confirmed by HbA1c during an extended follow-up. However, because these individuals have a risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease similar to that of the diabetes-free population, replacement of OGTT with HbA1c-based diagnosis appears justified.

Measures of Insulin Resistance as a Screening Tool for Dysglycemia in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Report From the EUROASPIRE V Population

OBJECTIVE

The optimal screening strategy for dysglycemia (including type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is debated. We tested the hypothesis that measures of insulin resistance by HOMA indexes may constitute good screening methods.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Insulin, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were centrally assessed in 3,534 patients with CAD without known dysglycemia from the fifth European Survey of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Diabetes (EUROASPIRE V). Three different HOMA indexes were calculated: HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA2 based on insulin (HOMA2-ins), and HOMA2 based on C-peptide (HOMA2-Cpep). Dysglycemia was diagnosed based on the 2-h postload glucose value obtained from the OGTT. Information on study participants was obtained by standardized interviews. The optimal thresholds of the three HOMA indexes for dysglycemia diagnosis were obtained by the maximum value of Youden's J statistic on receiver operator characteristic curves. Their correlation with clinical parameters was assessed by Spearman coefficients.

RESULTS

Of 3,534 patients with CAD (mean age 63 years; 25% women), 41% had dysglycemia. Mean insulin, C-peptide, and HOMA indexes were significantly higher in patients with versus without newly detected dysglycemia (all P < 0.0001). Sensitivity and specificity of the three HOMA indexes for the diagnosis of dysglycemia were low, but their correlation with BMI and waist circumference was strong.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for dysglycemia in patients with CAD by HOMA-IR, HOMA2-ins, and HOMA2-Cpep had insufficient diagnostic performance to detect dysglycemia with reference to the yield of an OGTT, which should still be prioritized despite its practical drawbacks.

Association between cardiovascular health metrics and risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Rural Chinese Cohort Study

AIMS

The evidence for association between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese population is limited. We explored the association between the number of ideal CVH metrics and risk of incident T2DM in a rural Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 12,150 rural Chinese participants (median age 51 years) were enrolled. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to assess the association between the number of ideal CVH metrics and risk of incident T2DM by using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We another conducted multiplicative and additive interaction effect between the number of ideal CVH metrics and sex or age on incident T2DM, and subgroup analyses of the association were also conducted by sex and age.

RESULTS

During a median of 6.01 years of follow-up, 840 incident cases of T2DM occurred. The number of ideal CVH metrics was negatively associated with risk of incident T2DM (per unit increase: HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.70-0.82). We also observed both multiplicative and additive interaction effect between lower number of ideal CVH metrics and sex on incident T2DM, and multiplicative interaction effect between lower number of ideal CVH metrics and age on incident T2DM was observed. The association remained statistically significant for both men and women, or participants with age < 65 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing number of ideal CVH metrics was associated with reduced risk of incident T2DM, which presented age- and sex-related differential associations.

Glycated albumin in diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy

OBJECTIVES

Guidelines recommend the diagnosis of diabetes should be based on either plasma glucose or glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1C) findings. However, lately studies have advocated glycated albumin (GA) as a useful alternative to HbA_1c. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the overall diagnostic accuracy of GA for the diagnosis of diabetes.

CONTENT

We searched for articles of GA diabetes diagnostic accuracy that were published up to August 2021. Studies were selected if reported an oral glucose tolerance test as a reference test, measured GA levels by enzymatic methods, and had data necessary for 2 × 2 contingency tables. A bivariate model was used to calculate the pooled estimates.

SUMMARY

This meta-analysis included nine studies, totaling 10,007 individuals. Of those, 3,106 had diabetes. The studies showed substantial heterogeneity caused by a non-threshold effect and reported different GA optimal cut-offs for diagnosing diabetes. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 15.93 and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.844, indicating a good level of overall accuracy for the diagnosis of diabetes. The effect of the GA threshold on diagnostic accuracy was reported at 15.0% and 17.1%. The optimal cut-off for diagnosing diabetes with GA was estimated as 17.1% with a pooled sensitivity of 55.1% (95% CI 36.7%-72.2%) and specificity of 94.4% (95% CI 85.3%-97.9%).

OUTLOOK

GA has good diabetes diagnostic accuracy. A GA threshold of 17.1% may be considered optimal for diagnosing diabetes in previously undiagnosed individuals.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and opportunities

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which was once thought to be rare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is now well established in this region. The SSA region is undergoing a rapid but variable epidemiological transition fuelled by the pace of urbanization, with disease burden profiles shifting from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Information on the epidemiology of T2DM has increased, but wide variations in study methods, diagnostic biomarkers and criteria hamper analytical comparison, and data from high-quality studies are limited. The prevalence of T2DM is still low in some rural populations but moderate or high rates are reported in many countries/regions, with evidence for an increase in some. In addition, the proportion of undiagnosed T2DM is still high. The prevalence of T2DM is highest in African people living in urban areas, and the gradient between African people living in urban areas and people in the African diaspora is rapidly fading. However, data from longitudinal studies are lacking and there is limited information on chronic complications and the genetics of T2DM. The large unmet needs for T2DM care call for greater investment of resources into health systems to manage NCDs in SSA. Proposed health-system paradigms are being developed in some countries/regions. However, national NCD programmes need to be adequately funded and coordinated to stem the tide of T2DM and its complications.

The diagnostic accuracy of HbA1c , compared to the oral glucose tolerance test, for screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Africa-A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of glycated haemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c ), compared to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), in screening for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Africa.

METHODS

We systematically searched databases for studies that compared the HbA_1c to either the OGTT, or the FPG for T2D diagnosis were included. The QUADAS 2 tool was used for assessing the quality of included studies. We used the split component synthesis (SCS) method for the meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies to pool the studies for meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity, primarily at the HbA_1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) cut-off and at other cut-offs. We assessed heterogeneity using the I²  statistic and publication bias using Doi plots.

RESULTS

Eleven studies, from seven African countries, with 12,925 participants, were included. Against the OGTT, HbA_1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) had a pooled sensitivity of 57.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 43.4-70.9) and specificity of 92.3% (95% CI 83.9-96.5). Against the FPG, HbA_1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) had a pooled sensitivity of 64.5% (95% CI 50.5-76.4) and specificity of 94.3% (95% CI 87.9-97.5). The highest sensitivity for HbA_1c , against the OGTT, was at the 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) cut-off.

CONCLUSION

In Africa, the HbA_1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) cut-off may miss almost half of the individuals with T2D based on blood glucose measures.

Clinical Interest of Serum Alpha-2 Macroglobulin, Apolipoprotein A1, and Haptoglobin in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, with and without Type 2 Diabetes, before or during COVID-19

In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and haptoglobin are associated with the risk of liver fibrosis, inflammation (NASH), and COVID-19. We assessed if these associations were worsened by T2DM after adjustment by age, sex, obesity, and COVID-19. Three datasets were used: the “Control Population”, which enabled standardization of protein serum levels according to age and sex (N = 27,382); the “NAFLD-Biopsy” cohort for associations with liver features (N = 926); and the USA “NAFLD-Serum” cohort for protein kinetics before and during COVID-19 (N = 421,021). The impact of T2DM was assessed by comparing regression curves adjusted by age, sex, and obesity for the liver features in “NAFLD-Biopsy”, and before and during COVID-19 pandemic peaks in “NAFLD-Serum”. Patients with NAFLD without T2DM, compared with the values of controls, had increased A2M, decreased ApoA1, and increased haptoglobin serum levels. In patients with both NAFLD and T2DM, these significant mean differences were magnified, and even more during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the year 2019 (all p < 0.001), with a maximum ApoA1 decrease of 0.21 g/L in women, and a maximum haptoglobin increase of 0.17 g/L in men. In conclusion, T2DM is associated with abnormal levels of A2M, ApoA1, and haptoglobin independently of NAFLD, age, sex, obesity, and COVID-19.

Prevalence of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Two Indigenous Municipalities in Rural Guatemala: A Population-Representative Survey

Background

Nearly 50% of Guatemalans are Indigenous Maya, yet few studies have examined the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Indigenous Maya populations. Therefore, we sought to estimate the prevalence of modifiable CVD risk factors in two Indigenous Maya areas in Guatemala.

Methods

We conducted, between June 2018 and October 2019, a population-representative survey of adults aged 18 years and older in two rural Indigenous Maya municipalities in Guatemala. Our primary outcomes were five modifiable CVD risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, and alcohol use. We estimated the crude and age-standardized prevalence of each outcome. We also constructed multivariable logistic regression models to assess prevalence over covariates including age, sex, education level, ethnicity, and poverty. Sampling weights adjusted for nonresponse, and appropriate survey commands were used in all analyses.

Results

The crude prevalence of diabetes was 12.5% (95% confidence Interval [CI] 9.6% to 16.1%), hypertension 20.3% (95% CI 17.1% to 23.9%), obesity 23.7% (95% CI 19.4% to 28.6%), smoking 10.7% (95% CI 7.8% to 14.5%), and high alcohol use 0.9% (95% CI 0.5% to 1.6%). Age-standardized prevalence of each outcome was similar to the crude prevalence. The prevalence of multiple CVD risk factors increased between the age groups 18-29 years and 50-59 years before decreasing among older age groups. Men had twenty-fold higher smoking prevalence than women (20.5% vs. 1.2%, respectively) and women had nearly double the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity as men (30.1% vs. 17.0%, respectively).

Conclusion

There is a substantial prevalence of modifiable CVD risk factors in rural, Indigenous populations in Guatemala, in particular hypertension, diabetes, obesity (among women), and smoking (among men). These findings can help catalyze policy and clinical investments to improve the prevention, management, and control of CVD risk factors in these historically marginalized communities.

Economic evaluation of population-based type 2 diabetes mellitus screening at different healthcare settings in Vietnam

Introduction

Few economic evaluations have assessed the cost-effectiveness of screening type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different healthcare settings. This study aims to evaluate the value for money of various T2DM screening strategies in Vietnam.

Methods

A decision analytical model was constructed to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of T2DM screening in different health care settings, including (1) screening at commune health station (CHS) and (2) screening at district health center (DHC), with no screening as the current practice. We further explored the costs and QALYs of different initial screening ages and different screening intervals. Cost and utility data were obtained by primary data collection in Vietnam. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated from societal and payer perspectives, while uncertainty analysis was performed to explore parameter uncertainties.

Results

Annual T2DM screening at either CHS or DHC was cost-effective in Vietnam, from both societal and payer perspectives. Annual screening at CHS was found as the best screening strategy in terms of value for money. From a societal perspective, annual screening at CHS from initial age of 40 years was associated with 0.40 QALYs gained while saving US$ 186.21. Meanwhile, one-off screening was not cost-effective when screening for people younger than 35 years old at both CHS and DHC.

Conclusions

T2DM screening should be included in the Vietnamese health benefits package, and annual screening at either CHS or DHC is recommended.

Prediabetes and What It Means: The Epidemiological Evidence

Prediabetes is an intermediate stage between normal glycemia and diabetes and is highly prevalent, especially in older age groups and obese individuals. Five different definitions of prediabetes are used in current practice, which are based on different cut points of HbA_1C, fasting glucose, and 2-h glucose. A major challenge for the field is a lack of guidance on when one definition might be preferred over another. Risks of major complications in persons with prediabetes, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and death, also vary depending on the prediabetes definition used. Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions can be cost-effective, prevent diabetes, and improve cardiovascular risk factors in adults with prediabetes. However, the practical implementation of lifestyle modification or the use of metformin for treating prediabetes is inadequate and complicated by a lack of agreement on how to define the condition. Establishing consensus definitions for prediabetes should be a priority and will help inform expansion of insurance coverage for lifestyle modification and improve current screening and diagnostic practices.

Undiagnosed diabetes based on HbA1c by socioeconomic status and healthcare consumption in the Tromsø Study 1994-2016

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate whether the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes varies by socioeconomic status and healthcare consumption, in a Norwegian population screened with glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this cohort study, we studied age-standardized diabetes prevalence using data from men and women aged 40-89 years participating in four surveys of the Tromsø Study with available data on HbA_1c and self-reported diabetes: 1994-1995 (n=6720), 2001 (n=5831), 2007-2008 (n=11 987), and 2015-2016 (n=20 170). We defined undiagnosed diabetes as HbA_1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) and no self-reported diabetes. We studied the association of education, income and contact with a general practitioner on undiagnosed diabetes and estimated adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) from multivariable adjusted (age, sex, body mass index) log-binomial regression.

RESULTS

Higher education was associated with lower prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. Those with secondary and tertiary education had lower prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes (aPR for tertiary vs primary: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.66). Undiagnosed as a proportion of all diabetes was also significantly lower in those with tertiary education (aPR:0.78, 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.93). Household income was also negatively associated with prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes. Across the surveys, approximately 80% of those with undiagnosed diabetes had been in contact with a general practitioner the last year, similar to those without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Undiagnosed diabetes was lower among participants with higher education. The hypothesis that those with undiagnosed diabetes had been less in contact with a general practitioner was not supported.

Definition and Classification of Diabetes and Prediabetes and Emerging Data on Phenotypes

Diabetes diagnosis has important implications for individuals. Diagnostic criteria for fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose and HbA1c are universally agreed. Intermediate hyperglycemia/prediabetes is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because risk is a continuum, determining cut-point is problematic and reflected in significant differences in recommended fasting glucose and HbA1c criteria. Many types of diabetes are recognized. Diabetes classification systems are limited by a lack of understanding of etiopathogenetic pathways leading to diminished β-cell function. The World Health Organization classification system is designed to assist clinical care decisions. Newly recognized phenotypic clusters of diabetes might inform future classification systems.

Glycemic Trajectories and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis: A Prospective Study in Eastern China

Rationale: Patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis often have inconsistent glycemic measurements during and after treatment. Distinct glycemic trajectories after the diagnosis of tuberculosis are not well characterized, and whether patients with stress hyperglycemia have poor treatment outcomes is not known.Objectives: To identify distinct glycemic trajectories from the point of tuberculosis diagnosis to the posttreatment period and to assess the relationship between glycemic trajectories and tuberculosis treatment outcomes.Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed, drug-susceptible tuberculosis and with at least three fasting plasma glucose tests at tuberculosis diagnosis and during the third and sixth month of treatment were identified and included from Jiangsu Province, China. Patients were also given an additional fasting plasma glucose test at 2 and 4 months after treatment.Measurements and Main Results: Several distinct glycemic trajectories from the point of tuberculosis diagnosis to the posttreatment period were found, including consistently normal glycemic testing results (43%), transient hyperglycemia (24%), erratic glycemic instability (12%), diabetes (16%), and consistent hyperglycemia without diabetes (6%). Compared with participants with a consistently normal glycemic trajectory, patients with transient hyperglycemia were more likely to experience treatment failure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-11.25; P = 0.004) or erratic glycemic instability (AOR, 5.98; 95% CI, 2.00-17.87; P = 0.001). Patients living with diabetes also had a higher risk of experiencing treatment failure (AOR, 6.56; 95% CI, 2.22-19.35; P = 0.001), and this was modified by glycemic control and metformin use.Conclusions: Among patients with tuberculosis without diabetes, glycemic changes were common and may represent an important marker for patient response to tuberculosis treatment.

Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Residents of the Siberian Region (According to Epidemiological Studies)

Aim. To analyze prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Kemerovo region based on the results of epidemiological studies (2013 and 2016).

Material and methods. The study was based on two large epidemiological studies of the Kemerovo region: on 2013, «The epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors in the Russian Federation» and on 2016, «The prospective study of urban and rural epidemiology: study of the influence of social factors on chronic non-infectious diseases in low, middle and high income countries». In the study we analyzed cardiovascular risk factors using identical questionnaires, functional, anthropometric, biochemical means and measured on identical scales. As a result, we analyzed the prevalence of smoking, diabetes mellitus, overweight and obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Results. Univariate analysis indicates that in the sample of 2016, compared to the sample of 2013, the prevalence of smoking is statistically significantly lower, as well as the proportion of participants with high cholesterol levels, but not taking lipid-lowering drugs. In contrast, the prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia is higher. In women, the frequency of abdominal obesity on 2016 is lower than on 2013: at 35-44 age group odds ratio (OR) =0.67 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-1.03, at 45-54 age group OR =0.47 with 95% CI 0.31-0.72, 55-65 age group OR =0.49 with 95% CI 0.30-0.79. A high incidence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia is characteristic mainly of older women (55-65 age group): accordingly, OR =1.96 with 95% CI 1.19-3.22, OR =1.42 with 95% CI 1,02-1.97, OR =1.51 at 95% CI 1.08-2.12. In the 45-54 age group of men, they smoked statistically significantly less often on 2016 compared to 2013, OR =0.59 with 95% CI 0.36-0.96. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in both samples is the same: for women, the OR for overweight in different age groups is within 0.74-0.87, for men - within 0.95-1.78; for obesity OR in women is from 0.70 to 0.79, in men - from 1.03 to 1.34.

Conclusion. A significant advantage of the study is the analysis of changes in prevalence in age and gender groups, which showed significant differences in the dynamics of men and women in different age categories for a number of risk factors. Analysis of the dynamics of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of state and regional policies in the field of health protection and, first of all, "risk groups” that require closer attention, development and implementation of targeted health-saving technologies.

Concordance between fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes in black South African adults: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

We investigated concordance between haemoglobin A1c (HbA₁c)-defined diabetes and fasting plasma glucose (FPG)-defined diabetes in a black South African population with a high prevalence of obesity.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Rural South African population-based cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

765 black individuals aged 40-70 years and with no history of diabetes.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was concordance between HbA_1c-defined diabetes and FPG-defined diabetes. Secondary outcome measures were differences in anthropometric characteristics, fat distribution and insulin resistance (measured using Homoeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)) between those with concordant and discordant HbA_1c/FPG classifications and predictors of HbA_1c variance.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HbA_1c-defined diabetes was four times the prevalence of FPG-defined diabetes (17.5% vs 4.2%). Classification was discordant in 15.7% of participants, with 111 individuals (14.5%) having HbA_1c-only diabetes (kappa 0.23; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.31). Median body mass index, waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, subcutaneous adipose tissue and HOMA-IR in participants with HbA_1c-only diabetes were similar to those in participants who were normoglycaemic by both biomarkers and significantly lower than in participants with diabetes by both biomarkers (p<0.05). HOMA-IR and fat distribution explained additional HbA_1c variance beyond glucose and age only in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Concordance was poor between HbA_1c and FPG in diagnosis of diabetes in black South Africans, and participants with HbA_1c-only diabetes phenotypically resembled normoglycaemic participants. Further work is necessary to determine which of these parameters better predicts diabetes-related morbidities in this population and whether a population-specific HbA_1c threshold is necessary.

Long-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction and newly detected glucose abnormalities: predictive value of oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c

BACKGROUND

Disturbances of glucose metabolism can be diagnosed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between newly detected disturbances of glucose metabolism and long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to compare the predictive value of an OGTT and HbA1c.

METHODS

Patients under the age of 80 years with no known history of diabetes admitted for AMI at the Department of Cardiology, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, from January 1st, 2006 until December 31st, 2013, were investigated with an OGTT and a HbA1c before discharge and were classified as having normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes or diabetes according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Using nationwide, all-inclusive registers, patients were followed for the incidence of combined event [CE (first of myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischaemic stroke or mortality)] for a mean follow-up time of 4.8 years. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate Hazard Ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Of the 841 patients who were investigated with both an OGTT and a HbA1c, 139 (17%) patients had NGT, 398 (47%) had prediabetes and 304 (36%) had diabetes according to OGTT. The corresponding figures using HbA1c were 320 (38%), 461 (55%) and 60 (7%). Patients with newly discovered diabetes were older and had a higher body mass index compared to those with NGT. OGTT was not predictive for CE. In contrast, prediabetes identified by a HbA1c was associated with an increased risk for CE (HR 1.31; 95% CI 1.05-1.63) compared to normoglycaemia. When comparing the prognostic value of different glucose and HbA1c cut-offs, only a HbA1c ≥ 39 mmol/mol was significantly associated with CE (HR 95% CI; 1.30:1.05-1.61).

CONCLUSION

In this single-centre study, in a recent contemporary cohort, we found that around two thirds of the patients admitted with AMI with no known history of diabetes had disturbed glucose metabolism, in accordance with previous studies. HbA1c in the prediabetes range, but not OGTT, added predictive value on the long-term outcome, in a cohort to whom a pathologic OGTT result was communicated with lifestyle advice.

The impact of ferritin on the disassociation of HbA1c and mean plasma glucose

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of ferritin level on the disassociation of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and mean plasma glucose (MPG).

RESEACH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used a 2012-2013 cross-sectional survey conducted in Pinggu district, Beijing including 3095 Chinese participants aged 25-75 years. We categorized their glycemic status by interviewing for diagnosed diabetes and by measuring HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hours post-load plasma glucose (2-hours PPG). We fitted a multivariable regression model to explore the impact of ferritin on the association of HbA1c or glycated albumin (GA) and mean plasma glucose.

RESULTS

A total of 5.65% of participants were diagnosed as diabetes using HbA1c criteria, and 9.79% using oral glucose tolerance test criteria. Compared with males, females had significantly lower hemoglobin levels (159.82 ± 11.56 vs 135.93 ± 12.62) and lower ferritin levels (113.00 [68.55, 185.50] vs 33.40 [12.40, 70.13]). Linear regression analysis performed in different groups classified by different diagnose criterion indicated that the correlation between MPG and HbA1c differs in different tertiles of ferritin (lowest vs middle vs highest: R² = 0.507 vs 0.645 vs 0.687 in female; R² = 0.415 vs 0.715 vs 0.615 in male), and the association between MPG and HbA1c diminished in the lowest tertile of ferritin.

CONCLUSIONS

Ferritin level might affect the association between glucose and HbA1c, which should be taken into account when using HbA1c as a diagnosis criterion for diabetes and prediabetes.

Integrated quality assessment for diabetes care in Portuguese primary health care using prevention quality indicators

AIMS

This study evaluates the prevention quality indicators (PQI) for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in Portugal using contemporary data and explores their variability according to Primary Health Care (PHC) quality indicators.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational analysis of secondary data comprising Portuguese PHC indicators by health centres group (ACES) and the National Hospital Morbidity Database. We calculated and analysed age-sex-adjusted rates for each PQI. Worse-performing ACES were identified using the 2017 median PQI values as an assessment cut-off. A multivariate logistic analysis was carried to find variables associated with the likelihood of being a worse-performing ACES for the biennium.

RESULTS

The median values of the indicator PQI93 - Prevention Quality Diabetes Composite were 79 and 65.2 hospitalizations per 100 000 pop, in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Diabetes long term complications (PQI 03) accounted for most of the hospitalizations. The quality indicator in PHC with greater influence on PQI93 was the proportion of DM patients with <65 years with test results for HbA1c < = 6.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that some PHC quality indicators are closely related to DM care, and so their monitoring is of high importance. Diabetes long term complications (PQI 03) demand greater attention from PHC professionals.

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in South Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Synthesis of existing prevalence data using rigorous systematic review methods is considered an effective strategy to generate representative and robust prevalence figures to inform health planning and policy. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify, collate, and synthesise all studies reporting the prevalence of total and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in South Africa. Four databases, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Index Medicus were searched for articles published between January 1997 and June 2020. A total of 1886 articles were identified, of which 11 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence in individuals 25 years and older was 15.25% (11.07–19.95%) for T2DM, 9.59% (5.82–14.17%) for IGT, 3.55% (0.38–9.61%) for IFG, and 8.29% (4.97–12.34%) for newly diagnosed T2DM. Although our pooled estimate may be imprecise due to significant heterogeneity across studies with regard to population group, age, gender, setting, diagnostic test, and study design, we provide evidence that the burden of glucose intolerance in South Africa is high. These factors contribute to the paucity of representative T2DM prevalence data. There is a need for well-designed epidemiological studies that use best-practice and standardised methods to assess prevalence.

Prevalence and associated factors of depression among diabetic outpatients attending diabetic clinic at public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Introduction:

Depression is one of the most common comorbid psychiatric disorders among diabetic patients. Depression among diabetic people has led to poor treatment adherence, defective treatment outcomes, and consequently worsened quality of life. However, there is a limited study conducted to assess the magnitude and factors associated with depression among diabetic patients in Ethiopia including this study area.

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among adult diabetic outpatients attending diabetic clinic in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods:

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 adult diabetic outpatients on treatment in Ethiopia in 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess depression among randomly selected samples. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was fitted to identify factors associated with depression among diabetic outpatients. A p value less than 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant.

Results:

The overall prevalence of depression among diabetic outpatients was found to be 48.9% (95% confidence interval: 44.2%, 53.4%). Being female (adjusted odds ratio = 1.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 2.73), Khat chewing (adjusted odds ratio = 1.88, 95% confidence interval: 1.22, 2.93), having poor and moderate social support (adjusted odds ratio = 1.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.07, 2.98 and adjusted odds ratio = 1.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 3.17, respectively), taking both oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin medication (adjusted odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.13, 2.80) and duration of diabetes mellitus for more than 6 years (adjusted odds ratio = 5.40, 95% confidence interval: 3.42, 8.14) were significantly associated with depression.

Conclusion:

This study revealed a relatively high prevalence of depression in diabetic outpatients. A lesser level of social support, taking oral and insulin treatment regimes, longer duration of illness, using Khat, and being female were associated with depression among diabetic outpatients. Therefore, early screening and identification of such factors could help ameliorate some of the deleterious effects of depression in diabetic outpatients.

Testosterone treatment to prevent or revert type 2 diabetes in men enrolled in a lifestyle programme (T4DM): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-year, phase 3b trial

BACKGROUND

Men who are overweight or obese frequently have low serum testosterone concentrations, which are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to determine whether testosterone treatment prevents progression to or reverses early type 2 diabetes, beyond the effects of a community-based lifestyle programme.

METHODS

T4DM was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-year, phase 3b trial done at six Australian tertiary care centres. Men aged 50-74 years, with a waist circumference of 95 cm or higher, a serum testosterone concentration of 14·0 nmol/L or lower but without pathological hypogonadism, and impaired glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] 2-h glucose 7·8-11·0 mmol/L) or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (provided OGTT 2-h glucose ≤15·0 mmol/L) were enrolled in a lifestyle programme and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive an intramuscular injection of testosterone undecanoate (1000 mg) or placebo at baseline, 6 weeks, and then every 3 months for 2 years. Randomisation was done centrally, including stratification by centre, age group, waist circumference, 2-h OGTT glucose, smoking, and first-degree family history of type 2 diabetes. The primary outcomes at 2 years were type 2 diabetes (2-h OGTT glucose ≥11·1 mmol/L) and mean change from baseline in 2-h OGTT glucose, assessed by intention to treat. For safety assessment, we did a masked monitoring of haematocrit and prostate-specific antigen, and analysed prespecified serious adverse events. This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12612000287831.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 5, 2013, and Feb 27, 2017, of 19 022 men who were pre-screened, 1007 (5%) were randomly assigned to the placebo (n=503) and testosterone (n=504) groups. At 2 years, 2-h glucose of 11·1 mmol/L or higher on OGTT was reported in 87 (21%) of 413 participants with available data in the placebo group and 55 (12%) of 443 participants in the testosterone group (relative risk 0·59, 95% CI 0·43 to 0·80; p=0·0007). The mean change from baseline 2-h glucose was -0·95 mmol/L (SD 2·78) in the placebo group and -1·70 mmol/L (SD 2·47) in the testosterone group (mean difference -0·75 mmol/L, -1·10 to -0·40; p<0·0001). The treatment effect was independent of baseline serum testosterone. A safety trigger for haematocrit greater than 54% occurred in six (1%) of 484 participants in the placebo group and 106 (22%) of 491 participants in the testosterone group, and a trigger for an increase of 0·75 μg/mL or more in prostate-specific antigen occurred in 87 (19%) of 468 participants in the placebo group and 109 (23%) of 480 participants in the testosterone group. Prespecified serious adverse events occurred in 37 (7·4%, 95% CI 5·4 to 10·0) of 503 patients in the placebo group and 55 (10·9%, 8·5 to 13·9) of 504 patients in the testosterone group. There were two deaths in each group.

INTERPRETATION

Testosterone treatment for 2 years reduced the proportion of participants with type 2 diabetes beyond the effects of a lifestyle programme. Increases in haematocrit might be treatment limiting. Longer-term durability, safety, and cardiovascular effects of the intervention remain to be further investigated.

FUNDING

Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Bayer, Eli Lilly, University of Adelaide, and WW (formerly Weight Watchers).

Sex-specific association of resting heart rate with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

This study aimed to explore the association of resting heart rate (RHR) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by sex, and whether the association was mediated by insulin resistance (IR).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 12,508 participants (median age 57 years), with information collection through questionnaire interview, anthropometric and laboratory measurements. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between RHR and T2DM by sex, and restricted cubic splines were used to describe the dose-response association. Mediation analysis was used to explore the contribution of IR, measured by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, to RHR-related T2DM.

RESULTS

Among 12,508 participants, 1413 participants (11.30%) had T2DM. RHR was positively associated with T2DM (per 10-bpm increase in RHR, OR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.34-1.64 for men and OR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.32-1.52 for women). As compared with RHR = 75 bpm, with increasing RHR, the adjusted probability of T2DM was significantly increased for both men and women. HOMA-IR partially mediated the association (indirect effect: OR = 1.17, 95% CI:1.13-1.22; direct effect: OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11-1.39 in men and indirect effect: OR = 1.16, 95% CI:1.13-1.20; direct effect: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.15-1.35 in women).

CONCLUSION

RHR was significantly associated with T2DM, which suggests that RHR may be a non-invasive clinical marker of early intervention to prevent T2DM, and IR may partially mediated RHR-related T2DM.

Predictive Performance of Glycated Hemoglobin for Incident Diabetes Compared with Glucose Tolerance Test According to Central Obesity

BACKGROUND

To examine whether glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test would be a suitable screening tool for detecting high-risk subjects for diabetes compared to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to accompanied central obesity.

METHODS

In this prospective population-based cohort study, both OGTT and HbA1c tests were performed and continued every 2 years up to 12 years among individuals with non-diabetic state at baseline (aged 40 to 69 years, n=7,512). Incident diabetes was established by a doctor, HbA1c ≥6.5%, and/or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL, and/or 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG) level based on OGTT ≥200 mg/dL. Discriminative capacities of high HbA1c (≥5.7%) versus high 2hPG (≥140 mg/dL) for predicting incident diabetes were compared using Cox-proportional hazard regression and C-index.

RESULTS

During the median 11.5 years of follow-up period, 1,341 (17.6%) developed diabetes corresponding to an incidence of 22.1 per 1,000 person-years. Isolated high 2hPG was associated with higher risk for incident diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 4.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.56 to 5.17) than isolated high HbA1c (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 2.40 to 3.26; P<0.05). In addition, high 2hPG provided better discriminatory capacity than high HbA1c (C-index 0.79 vs. 0.75, P<0.05). Meanwhile, in subjects with central obesity, the HR (3.95 [95% CI, 3.01 to 5.18] vs. 2.82 [95% CI, 2.30 to 3.46]) and discriminatory capacity of incident diabetes (C-index 0.75 vs. 0.75) between two subgroups became comparable.

CONCLUSION

Even though the overall inferior predictive capacity of HbA1c test than OGTT, HbA1c test might plays a complementary role in identifying high risk for diabetes especially in subjects with central obesity with increased sensitivity.

Diagnostic accuracy of tests for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim

This systematic review aimed to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of screening tests for early detection of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in previously undiagnosed adults.

Methods

This systematic review included published studies that included one or more index tests (random and fasting tests, HbA1c) for glucose detection, with 75-gram Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (or 2-hour post load glucose) as a reference standard (PROSPERO ID CRD42018102477). Seven databases were searched electronically (from their inception up to March 9, 2020) accompanied with bibliographic and website searches. Records were manually screened and full text were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subsequently, data extraction was done using standardized form and quality assessment of studies using QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analysis was done using bivariate model using Stata 14.0. Optimal cut offs in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the tests were analysed using R software.

Results

Of 7,151 records assessed by title and abstract, a total of 37 peer reviewed articles were included in this systematic review. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) for diagnosing diabetes with HbA1c (6.5%; venous sample; n = 17 studies) were 50% (95% CI: 42–59%), 97.3% (95% CI: 95.3–98.4), 18.32 (95% CI: 11.06–30.53) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.43–0.60), respectively. However, the optimal cut-off for diagnosing diabetes in previously undiagnosed adults with HbA1c was estimated as 6.03% with pooled sensitivity of 73.9% (95% CI: 68–79.1%) and specificity of 87.2% (95% CI: 82–91%). The optimal cut-off for Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) was estimated as 104 milligram/dL (mg/dL) with a sensitivity of 82.3% (95% CI: 74.6–88.1%) and specificity of 89.4% (95% CI: 85.2–92.5%).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that at present recommended threshold of 6.5%, HbA1c is more specific and less sensitive in diagnosing the newly detected diabetes in undiagnosed population from community settings. Lowering of thresholds for HbA1c and FPG to 6.03% and 104 mg/dL for early detection in previously undiagnosed persons for screening purposes may be considered.

Diagnostic accuracy of ADA 2020 criteria for undiagnosed diabetes in a Peruvian population

AIMS

To assess the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes (UDD) and the diagnostic accuracy of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria to detect UDD cases in a Peruvian population.

METHODS

Population-based cross-sectional study. UDD was defined using fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour post-prandial plasma glucose (2 h-PPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) traditional cut-offs. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated using areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, compared with the combination of oral glucose tolerance test (FPG plus 2 h-PPG) plus HbA1c as gold standard.

RESULTS

1609 subjects were evaluated; mean age 48.2 (SD: 10.6) years, 50.3% were women. A total of 179 (11.3%) subjects were classified as having diabetes, 41.3% of them had UDD. Area under the curve for FPG, 2 h-PPG and HbA1c was 86.5% (95% CI: 81.4-91.6%); 87.2% (95% CI: 82.2-92.2%) and 80.4% (95% CI: 74.8-86.0%), respectively. FPG sensitivity was 73.0%, whereas this value was 74.3% for 2 h-PPG and 60.8% for HbA1c. Of 74 UDD cases, 45 were positive for HbA1c, 54 for FPG and 55 for 2 h-PPG.

CONCLUSIONS

41.3% of people with diabetes do not know their diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy of FPG and 2 h-PPG was higher than HbA1c. The most sensitive combination of two tests to detect UDD cases was FPG plus 2 h-PPG.

Adult Diabetes and Prediabetes Prevalence in Kuwait: Data from the Cross-Sectional Kuwait Diabetes Epidemiology Program

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in adults in Kuwait.

METHODS

The Kuwait Diabetes Epidemiology Program was a nationally representative, cross-sectional study of diabetes and obesity in Kuwait conducted between 2011 and 2014. The survey sampled 4937 adults in Kuwait aged 20 years or more and recorded participants' demographics, behaviours, medical history, physical measurements and blood biochemical measurements. Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L or HbA1c between 6 and 6.4% (42-47 mmol/mol). Diabetes was defined as self-reported history with prescribed glucose-lowering medication or FPG ≥7mmol/L or HbA1c level ≥6.5% (≥48 mmol/mol).

RESULTS

The overall adjusted prevalence of diabetes was 19.1%. The overall adjusted prevalence of prediabetes was 13.5%. Diabetes prevalence was 5.4%, 14.2%, 38.7% and 64.8% in adults aged 20-29, 30-44, 45-59 and 60 years or more, respectively. Diabetes prevalence was 22.4% in men and 14.4% in women. Prediabetes prevalence was 14.8% in men and 11.5% in women. In Kuwaitis, diabetes and prediabetes prevalence was 21.8% and 11.1%, respectively, while prevalence in non-Kuwaitis was 18.2% for diabetes and 14.3% for prediabetes.

CONCLUSION

These findings illustrate the severe public health challenge posed by diabetes in Kuwait.

Factors associated with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in Germany: results from German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011

INTRODUCTION

To identify characteristics of people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) among adults in Germany.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study population comprised participants aged 40-79 years of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011. Glycemic status was categorized as undiagnosed T2D (glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%), n=135), diagnosed T2D (n=518) and normoglycemia (HbA1c<48 mmol/mol (6.5%), n=4451). Multinomial logistic regression models including glycemic status as the outcome variable and sociodemographic characteristics, living alone, diabetes risk factors and healthcare services utilization as independent variables were used to identify factors associated with undiagnosed T2D compared with normoglycemia and diagnosed T2D. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported as measure of association between the outcome and independent variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence of undiagnosed T2D was 2.9% (95% CI 2.2% to 3.9%) at an overall prevalence of 12.3% (11.0% to 13.6%) of persons with undiagnosed or diagnosed T2D. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with undiagnosed as well as diagnosed T2D in comparison to normoglycemia were older age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06, per year, for undiagnosed T2D; OR 1.08, 1.07 to 1.10 for diagnosed T2D), male sex (3.33, 2.18 to 5.07; 1.91, 1.43 to 2.56), obesity (3.47, 2.17 to 5.56; 2.68, 2.04 to 3.52), hypertension (1.66, 1.09 to 2.53; 2.04, 1.42 to 2.95) and parental history of diabetes (2.04, 1.24 to 3.35; 3.16, 2.30 to 4.34). Variables independently associated with undiagnosed T2D but not diagnosed T2D included living alone (2.20; 1.36 to 3.56) and not seeing a doctor within the past year (2.57; 1.34 to 4.93). People with undiagnosed T2D were further younger and more likely to be male sex and reside in the western part of Germany than people with diagnosed T2D.

CONCLUSION

Apart from major known risk factors of diabetes, characteristics specific to undiagnosed diabetes among adults in Germany will serve to inform the national education and communication strategy on diabetes mellitus in Germany.

Body mass index trajectories and noncommunicable diseases in women: The role of leisure time physical activity

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between body mass index trajectories and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in women, and the interaction effects of leisure time physical activity on this relationship.

METHODS

Sample was composed by 15 628 women (≥30 years old) who performed objective measurement of body mass, height, and blood pressure in the 2013 Brazilian Health Survey (2013). Information regarding the body mass at 20 years old, current type 2 diabetes (T2DM), dyslipidemia diagnosis, and leisure time physical activity were self-reported by the participants. Socio-demographic and behavioral covariates were considered. Logistic regression models were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Those who were obese in both moments and women who become obese showed similar high risk, however, the prevalence of NCDs among women who were no longer obese was similar to the consistently non-obese. Leisure time physical activity attenuated the general deleterious effect of obesity, especially among the consistently obese women for dyslipidemia (inactive: OR: 2.02 [95%CI: 1.69-2.43] vs active: OR: 1.05 [95%CI: 0.55-1.99]), T2DM (inactive: OR: 3.84 [95%CI: 2.72-5.43] vs active: OR: 4.38 [95%CI: 1.49-12.86]) and high blood pressure (inactive: OR: 2.00 [95%CI: 1.56-2.57] vs active: OR: 1.15 [95%CI: 0.57-2.52]).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in body mass index appear to be sensitive to detecting the risk of NCDs over lifespan. In addition, leisure time physical activity attenuates the negative effects of obesity on NCDs, but this appears more important for the consistently non-obese women.

Pitfalls of HbA1c in the Diagnosis of Diabetes

Many health care providers screen high-risk individuals exclusively with an HbA1c despite its insensitivity for detecting dysglycemia. The 2 cases presented describe the inherent caveats of interpreting HbA1c without performing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The first case reflects the risk of overdiagnosing type 2 diabetes (T2D) in an older African American male in whom HbA1c levels, although variable, were primarily in the mid-prediabetes range (5.7-6.4% [39-46 mmol/mol]) for many years although the initial OGTT demonstrated borderline impaired fasting glucose with a fasting plasma glucose of 102 mg/dL [5.7 mmol/L]) without evidence for impaired glucose tolerance (2-hour glucose ≥140-199 mg/dl ([7.8-11.1 mmol/L]). Because subsequent HbA1c levels were diagnostic of T2D (6.5%-6.6% [48-49 mmol/mol]), a second OGTT performed was normal. The second case illustrates the risk of underdiagnosing T2D in a male with HIV having normal HbA1c levels over many years who underwent an OGTT when mild prediabetes (HbA1c = 5.7% [39 mmol/mol]) developed that was diagnostic of T2D. To avoid inadvertent mistreatment, it is therefore essential to perform an OGTT, despite its limitations, in high-risk individuals, particularly when glucose or fructosamine and HbA1c values are discordant. Innate differences in the relationship between fructosamine or fasting glucose to HbA1c are demonstrated by the glycation gap or hemoglobin glycation index.

Limited Agreement between Classifications of Diabetes and Prediabetes Resulting from the OGTT, Hemoglobin A1c, and Fasting Glucose Tests in 7412 U.S. Adults

This investigation was designed to determine the degree of concordance resulting from tests of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (A1c) compared to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for detecting prediabetes and diabetes in undiagnosed adults. Another objective was to measure concordance within subsamples of women and men, and within three age groups. Lastly, the value of combining the FPG and A1c for detecting diabetes was compared to the OGTT. A total of 7412 randomly selected adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. With outcomes classified as normal, prediabetes, or diabetes, according to standard guidelines, overall test agreements were low. With an OGTT diagnosis of diabetes, concordance was only 34% for the A1c assessment and 44% for the FPG assay. Delimited to older adults, agreement between the OGTT and A1c was only 25%, and between the OGTT and FPG, concordance was only 33.5%. Given the large percentage of discordant results associated with the FPG and A1c, clinicians should be cautious about employing these tests as lone assessments. Using both the FPG and A1c helped with accurately diagnosing diabetes and normal glycemia, but not prediabetes. The OGTT is a good choice to reduce misdiagnosis.

Limited Agreement between Classifications of Diabetes and Prediabetes Resulting from the OGTT, Hemoglobin A1c, and Fasting Glucose Tests in 7412 U.S. Adults

This investigation was designed to determine the degree of concordance resulting from tests of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (A1c) compared to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for detecting prediabetes and diabetes in undiagnosed adults. Another objective was to measure concordance within subsamples of women and men, and within three age groups. Lastly, the value of combining the FPG and A1c for detecting diabetes was compared to the OGTT. A total of 7412 randomly selected adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. With outcomes classified as normal, prediabetes, or diabetes, according to standard guidelines, overall test agreements were low. With an OGTT diagnosis of diabetes, concordance was only 34% for the A1c assessment and 44% for the FPG assay. Delimited to older adults, agreement between the OGTT and A1c was only 25%, and between the OGTT and FPG, concordance was only 33.5%. Given the large percentage of discordant results associated with the FPG and A1c, clinicians should be cautious about employing these tests as lone assessments. Using both the FPG and A1c helped with accurately diagnosing diabetes and normal glycemia, but not prediabetes. The OGTT is a good choice to reduce misdiagnosis.

Limited Agreement between Classifications of Diabetes and Prediabetes Resulting from the OGTT, Hemoglobin A1c, and Fasting Glucose Tests in 7412 U.S. Adults

This investigation was designed to determine the degree of concordance resulting from tests of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (A1c) compared to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for detecting prediabetes and diabetes in undiagnosed adults. Another objective was to measure concordance within subsamples of women and men, and within three age groups. Lastly, the value of combining the FPG and A1c for detecting diabetes was compared to the OGTT. A total of 7412 randomly selected adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. With outcomes classified as normal, prediabetes, or diabetes, according to standard guidelines, overall test agreements were low. With an OGTT diagnosis of diabetes, concordance was only 34% for the A1c assessment and 44% for the FPG assay. Delimited to older adults, agreement between the OGTT and A1c was only 25%, and between the OGTT and FPG, concordance was only 33.5%. Given the large percentage of discordant results associated with the FPG and A1c, clinicians should be cautious about employing these tests as lone assessments. Using both the FPG and A1c helped with accurately diagnosing diabetes and normal glycemia, but not prediabetes. The OGTT is a good choice to reduce misdiagnosis.

Melioidosis DS rapid test: A standardized serological dipstick assay with increased sensitivity and reliability due to multiplex detection

Background

Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a severe infectious disease with high mortality rates, but is under-recognized worldwide. In endemic areas, there is a great need for simple, low-cost and rapid diagnostic tools. In a previous study we showed, that a protein multiplex array with 20 B. pseudomallei-specific antigens detects antibodies in melioidosis patients with high sensitivity and specificity. In a subsequent study the high potential of anti-B. pseudomallei antibody detection was confirmed using a rapid Hcp1 single protein-based assay. Our protein array also showed that the antibody profile varies between patients, possibly due to a combination of host factors but also antigen variations in the infecting B. pseudomallei strains. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid test, combining Hcp1 and the best performing antigens BPSL2096, BPSL2697 and BPSS0477 from our previous study, to take advantage of simultaneous antibody detection.

Methods and principal findings

The 4-plex dipstick was validated with sera from 75 patients on admission plus control groups, achieving 92% sensitivity and 97–100% specificity. We then re-evaluated melioidosis sera with the 4-plex assay that were previously misclassified by the monoplex Hcp1 rapid test. 12 out of 55 (21.8%) false-negative samples were positive in our new dipstick assay. Among those, 4 sera (7.3%) were Hcp1 positive, whereas 8 (14.5%) sera remained Hcp1 negative but gave a positive reaction with our additional antigens.

Conclusions

Our dipstick rapid test represents an inexpensive, standardized and simple diagnostic tool with an improved serodiagnostic performance due to multiplex detection. Each additional band on the test strip makes a false-positive result more unlikely, contributing to its reliability. Future prospective studies will seek to validate the gain in sensitivity and specificity of our multiplex rapid test approach in different melioidosis patient cohorts.

The Gram-negative environmental pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, causes the severe disease melioidosis. It is highly endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia, but recent studies suggest that it is also present in many other parts of the world where it is severely underreported. The latter results from the extremely variable and non-specific clinical manifestations of the disease, lack of clinical recognition, and the global scarcity of good quality laboratories to allow diagnosis from microbiological culture. This is even more unfortunate, as early diagnosis of the disease is indispensable for an effective therapy, since B. pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics used for empirical treatment in endemic areas. Therefore, the development of new, standardized and sensitive tools is of high importance for both diagnostics and epidemiology. We focused on the development of a dipstick assay, which is based on the detection of serum antibodies against four B. pseudomallei specific protein antigens. Here we present a cost effective, simple and rapid melioidosis assay with improved sensitivity that does not depend on sophisticated laboratory equipment and therefore addresses most of the before mentioned obstacles and is easy to manufacture in large scales.

Review of methods for detecting glycemic disorders

Prediabetes (intermediate hyperglycemia) consists of two abnormalities, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) detected by a standardized 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Individuals with isolated IGT or combined IFG and IGT have increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diagnosing prediabetes early and accurately is critical in order to refer high-risk individuals for intensive lifestyle modification. However, there is currently no international consensus for diagnosing prediabetes with HbA1c or glucose measurements based upon American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria that identify different populations at risk for progressing to diabetes. Various caveats affecting the accuracy of interpreting the HbA1c including genetics complicate this further. This review describes established methods for detecting glucose disorders based upon glucose and HbA1c parameters as well as novel approaches including the 1-hour plasma glucose (1-h PG), glucose challenge test (GCT), shape of the glucose curve, genetics, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), measures of insulin secretion and sensitivity, metabolomics, and ancillary tools such as fructosamine, glycated albumin (GA), 1,5- anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG). Of the approaches considered, the 1-h PG has considerable potential as a biomarker for detecting glucose disorders if confirmed by additional data including health economic analysis. Whether the 1-h OGTT is superior to genetics and omics in providing greater precision for individualized treatment requires further investigation. These methods will need to demonstrate substantially superiority to simpler tools for detecting glucose disorders to justify their cost and complexity.

Interaction between sex and rurality on the prevalence of diabetes in Guyana: a nationally representative study

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes prevalence has never been measured in Guyana. We conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes, and the association between sex and diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In 2016, the Ministry of Public Health led Guyana's first national STEPS survey among adults aged 18-69 years. Half of the participants were randomly selected for hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood glucose testing. We estimated the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes and measured the association between sex and diabetes prevalence using logistic regression to compute adjusted ORs.

RESULTS

We included 805 adults (511 women, 294 men, mean age 41.8 (SD 14.4) years). The national prevalence of diabetes was 18.1% (95% CI: 15.4% to 20.8%), with higher rates among women (21.4%, 95% CI: 18.0% to 24.7%) than men (15.1%, 95% CI: 10.9% to 19.3%). Sex-specific diabetes prevalence varied significantly across urban and rural areas (p=0.002 for interaction). In rural areas, diabetes was twice as common among women (24.1%, 95% CI: 20.1% to 28.2%) compared with men (11.8%, 95% CI: 7.7% to 15.9%). After adjusting for prespecified covariates, rural women had double the odds of diabetes compared with rural men (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.20 to 3.82). This prevalence pattern was reversed in urban areas (diabetes prevalence, women: 13.9%, 95% CI: 8.7% to 19.0%; men: 22.0%, 95% CI: 12.9% to 31.1%), with urban women having half the odds of diabetes compared with urban men (OR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.99). We estimated that nearly one-third of women and over a quarter of men had diabetes or pre-diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of diabetes in Guyana is considerably higher than previously estimated, with an unexpectedly high prevalence among women-particularly in rural areas.

Secular trends in cardiovascular risk factors among women aged 45-54 years in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1980 to 2014

Background

A declining trend in mean cholesterol levels and smoking has been observed in high-income western countries during the last few decades, whereas obesity rates have increased. Simultaneously, mortality from coronary heart disease has decreased. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the trends in cardiovascular risk factors have continued in successive cohorts of middle-aged women over a period of 34 years.

Methods

Six population-based, cross-sectional samples of women (n = 2294) mean age: 49.8 years (range: 45–54), living in Gothenburg, Sweden, were investigated between 1980 and 2014.

Results

Body mass index (BMI) increased over time, with a mean BMI of 24.7 kg/m² in 1980 to 25.7 kg/m² in 2013–2014, corresponding to a weight gain of 4.5 kg, together with an increase in the proportion of obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) from 10.4 to 16.6% (p = 0.0012). The proportion of smokers and women with hypertension decreased from 34.5 to 12.8% (p = 0.0006) and from 37.7 to 24.5% (p < 0.0001) respectively. Mean total serum cholesterol levels decreased from 6.23 (SD 1.09) mmol/L in 1980 to 5.43 (SD 0.98) mmol/L in 2013–2014 (p < 0.0001). Self-reported leisure time regular exercise increased from 7.8% in 1980 to 35.6% in 2013–2014 (p < 0.0001). For women born in 1963, the prevalence ratio of not having any of five major cardiovascular risk factors was 1.82 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–2.41), compared with women born in 1925–1934.

Conclusion

The trend towards increasing obesity, more leisure-time physical activity and less smoking remains, while the decrease in serum cholesterol appears to have abated.

Phenotypic and lifestyle determinants of HbA1c in the general population-The Hoorn Study

Aim

To investigate the relative contribution of phenotypic and lifestyle factors to HbA_1c, independent of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2h post-load glucose (2hPG), in the general population.

Methods

The study populations included 2309 participants without known diabetes from the first wave of the Hoorn Study (1989) and 2619 from the second wave (2006). Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between potential determinants and HbA_1c in addition to FPG and 2hPG. The multivariate model was derived in the first wave of the Hoorn Study, and replicated in the second wave.

Results

In both cohorts, independent of FPG and 2hPG, higher age, female sex, larger waist circumference, and smoking were associated with a higher HbA_1c level. Larger hip circumference, higher BMI, higher alcohol consumption and vitamin C intake were associated with a lower HbA_1c level. FPG and 2hPG together explained 41.0% (first wave) and 53.0% (second wave) of the total variance in HbA_1c. The combination of phenotypic and lifestyle determinants additionally explained 5.7% (first wave) and 3.9% (second wave).

Conclusions

This study suggests that, independent of glucose, phenotypic and lifestyle factors are associated with HbA_1c, but the contribution is relatively small. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the low correlation between glucose levels and HbA_1c in the general population.

Body Fat Percentage Rather than Body Mass Index Related to the High Occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes prevalence estimation and reduction of its risk factors remain the major goals of health services. While obesity is the major risk factor for diabetes, body fat distribution may be a better predictor.

AIMS

To estimate the prevalence of diabetes in an adult working population in Mexico City, and to evaluate the strength of association with different risk factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two city halls of Mexico City. Anthropometrics, blood pressure, physical activity, diet, and biochemical parameters were assessed. Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level ≥7.0 mmol/l or referred diabetes. The bioelectrical impedance analysis of body components was performed and weight, soft lean mass, body fat percentage and abdominal fat were obtained. Prevalence with 95% confidence intervals was estimated, as well as odds ratios derived from a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 11.0% (95% CI 9.6-12.4%). The proportion of individuals with diabetes who were unaware of having the disease was higher in women (42.5 vs. 36.9%), and the degree of metabolic control was better in women (39.1 vs. 25.0%). Age, blood pressure, triglycerides and the percentage of body fat, were major risk factors related to the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. No relation was observed with physical activity and diet.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Mexico continues to be high and obesity measured by body fat percentage seems to be a better predictor of its occurrence than body mass index.