Temporal changes in the prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and its associated risk factors in the rural area of Baluchistan

Abstract

Aims: To observe temporal changes in the prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and its associated risk factors in the rural area of Baluchistan province of Pakistan according to American Diabetes Association criteria by comparing the two surveys done in 2002 and 2009.

Methodology: This community based survey of 1264 subjects aged 25 years and above was conducted from February 2009 to February 2010 in sixteen villages of southern Baluchistan. The temporal changes were assessed in comparison with a similar survey conducted seven years previously. Data from 2002 survey was also re-analyzed according to the latest ADA criteria.

Results: A two-fold increase in the prevalence of diabetes (from 7.2% to 14.2%) was seen in 2009 survey and the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose also increased significantly (6.5-11.0%). An important finding was the number of hypertensives and subjects with positive family history of diabetes also increased significantly (p<0.000) from the previous survey.

Conclusion: Coordinated National Programs for primary prevention to counteract the increasing prevalence of diabetes are the need of time. Further large scale studies with proper risk factor assessment are needed to ascertain the reasons of rising prevalence of glucose intolerance.