Abstract
BackgroundOur aim was to estimate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) (i.e. diabetes and pre-diabetes) and its associated factors among people aged 35-60 years so as to clarify the relevance of targeted screening in rural Africa.MethodsA population-based survey of 1,497 people (786 women and 711 men) aged 35-60 years was conducted in a predominantly rural Demographic Surveillance Site in eastern Uganda. Participants responded to a lifestyle questionnaire, following which their Body Mass Index (BMI) and Blood Pressure (BP) were measured. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured from capillary blood using On-Call® Plus (Acon) rapid glucose meters, following overnight fasting. AGR was defined as FPG ≥6.1mmol L-1 (World Health Organization (WHO) criteria or ≥5.6mmol L-1 (American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Diabetes was defined as FPG >6.9mmol L-1, or being on diabetes treatment.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 45 years for men and 44 for women. Prevalence of diabetes was 7.4% (95%CI 6.1-8.8), while prevalence of pre-diabetes was 8.6% (95%CI 7.3-10.2) using WHO criteria and 20.2% (95%CI 17.5-22.9) with ADA criteria. Using WHO cut-offs, the prevalence of AGR was 2 times higher among obese persons compared with normal BMI persons (Adjusted Prevalence Rate Ratio (APRR) 1.9, 95%CI 1.3-2.8). Occupation as a mechanic, achieving the WHO recommended physical activity threshold, and higher dietary diversity were associated with lower likelihood of AGR (APRR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4-0.9; APRR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4-0.8; APRR 0.5, 95%CI 0.3-0.9 respectively). The direct medical cost of detecting one person with AGR was two US dollars with ADA and three point seven dollars with WHO cut-offs.ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of AGR among people aged 35-60 years in this setting. Screening for high risk persons and targeted health education to address obesity, insufficient physical activity and non-diverse diets are necessary.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes is rising in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1,2]
Because the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) is high among people aged 35-60 years, there is a strong justification for targeted screening of individuals aged 35-60 years when they interface with the health services
Diabetes prevention programs could identify high risk groups on the basis of other risk factors
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is rising in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1,2]. Between 2010 and 2030, a 69% increase in type 2 diabetes is expected among adults aged 20-79 years in low-income countries compared with a 20% increase in the same age group in high income countries [3]. A crossectional study in Kampala and Mukono Districts in 2002 estimated the prevalence of type 2 diabetes to be 8% among people aged ≥35 years [9]. These districts have a mainly urban population. Another survey in rural southern Uganda estimated the prevalence of diabetes at 0.6% among people aged ≥13 years [8]. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) (i.e. diabetes and prediabetes) and its associated factors among people aged 35-60 years so as to clarify the relevance of targeted screening in rural Africa. Urban None Primary Secondary Tertiary Subsistence Traders Formal salaried Mechanic Lowest Middle Highest
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