Pakistan National Diabetes Survey: prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in Baluchistan province

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and their relationship to age and obesity was estimated in a population-based survey in urban and rural areas in Baluchistan province, Pakistan. Cluster sampling of 834 adults (260 men, 574 women) in the urban and 570 adults (175 men, 395 women) in the rural areas was carried out. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in adults aged 25 years and above. Diagnosis of diabetes and IGT was according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The overall prevalence of diabetes and IGT in both sexes was 10.8 and 11.9% (urban) versus 6.5 and 11.2% (rural), respectively. The crude prevalence of diabetes in the urban versus rural area was 11.1% in men and 10.6% in women versus 10.3% in men and 4.8% in women. As against this IGT was found in 6.5% of men and 14.3% of women in the urban area and 7.4% of men and 13.0% of women in the rural setting. The major risk factors associated with diabetes were age, positive family history (F/H) of diabetes and obesity. Central obesity was more strongly associated with diabetes in women than men.