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Okumiya K, Sakamoto R, Ishimoto Y, Kimura Y, Fukutomi E, Ishikawa M, Suwa K, Imai H, Chen W, Kato E, Nakatsuka M, Kasahara Y, Fujisawa M, Wada T, Wang H, Dai Q, Xu H, Qiao H, Ge RL, Norboo T, Tsering N, Kosaka Y, Nose M, Yamaguchi T, Tsukihara T, Ando K, Inamura T, Takeda S, Ishine M, Otsuka K, Matsubayashi K. Glucose intolerance associated with hypoxia in people living at high altitudes in the Tibetan highland. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e009728. [PMID: 26908520 PMCID: PMC4769430 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To clarify the association between glucose intolerance and high altitudes (2900-4800 m) in a hypoxic environment in Tibetan highlanders and to verify the hypothesis that high altitude dwelling increases vulnerability to diabetes mellitus (DM) accelerated by lifestyle change or ageing. DESIGN Cross-sectional epidemiological study on Tibetan highlanders. PARTICIPANTS We enrolled 1258 participants aged 40-87 years. The rural population comprised farmers in Domkhar (altitude 2900-3800 m) and nomads in Haiyan (3000-3100 m), Ryuho (4400 m) and Changthang (4300-4800 m). Urban area participants were from Leh (3300 m) and Jiegu (3700 m). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Participants were classified into six glucose tolerance-based groups: DM, intermediate hyperglycaemia (IHG), normoglycaemia (NG), fasting DM, fasting IHG and fasting NG. Prevalence of glucose intolerance was compared in farmers, nomads and urban dwellers. Effects of dwelling at high altitude or hypoxia on glucose intolerance were analysed with the confounding factors of age, sex, obesity, lipids, haemoglobin, hypertension and lifestyle, using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS The prevalence of DM (fasting DM)/IHG (fasting IHG) was 8.9% (6.5%)/25.1% (12.7%), respectively, in all participants. This prevalence was higher in urban dwellers (9.5% (7.1%)/28.5% (11.7%)) and in farmers (8.5% (6.1%)/28.5% (18.3%)) compared with nomads (8.2% (5.7%)/15.7% (9.7%)) (p=0.0140/0.0001). Dwelling at high altitude was significantly associated with fasting IHG+fasting DM/fasting DM (ORs for >4500 and 3500-4499 m were 3.59/4.36 and 2.07/1.76 vs <3500 m, respectively). After adjusting for lifestyle change, hypoxaemia and polycythaemia were closely associated with glucose intolerance. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic factors, hypoxaemia and the effects of altitudes >3500 m play a major role in the high prevalence of glucose intolerance in highlanders. Tibetan highlanders may be vulnerable to glucose intolerance, with polycythaemia as a sign of poor hypoxic adaptation, accelerated by lifestyle change and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyohito Okumiya
- Research Department, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryota Sakamoto
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuko Ishimoto
- Faculty of Medicine, Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing, Mie University, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Yumi Kimura
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eriko Fukutomi
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Motonao Ishikawa
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Suwa
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hissei Imai
- Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Wenling Chen
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Emiko Kato
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Yoriko Kasahara
- College of Nursing, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Michiko Fujisawa
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taizo Wada
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hongxin Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Qingxiang Dai
- Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Huining Xu
- Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Haisheng Qiao
- Qinghai Academy of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Ri-Li Ge
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | | | | | - Yasuyuki Kosaka
- Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Nose
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Toshihiro Tsukihara
- Faculty of Education and Regional Studies, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Kazuo Ando
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Shinya Takeda
- Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Kuniaki Otsuka
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan
- Chronomics & Gerontology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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