IJCM_197A: A cross-sectional study to assess the risk of diabetes among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the major public health problems that affects all age groups. Usually, medical students have sedentary lifestyle owing to academic requirements and there are only limited studies on diabetes screening have been conducted among them. Thus, this study aimed to assess risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and to study association of diabetes risk with other factors among undergraduate medical students. Objectives: 1. To assess the risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care hospital. 2. To study the association of risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with other factors among undergraduate medical students. Methodology: A cross-sectional study conducted among 272 undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care hospital during July 2023 to October 2023. Data collection was done using sociodemographic questionnaire and risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus was assessed using Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS). Results: Among 272 study participants, about 21% had moderate risk score and 1.5% had severe risk score. About 64% medical students belonged to nuclear family, 44.6% had family history of diabetes mellitus and 38% were overweight/ obese. Statistically significant association of moderate-high diabetes risk with nuclear family, positive family history of diabetes, no/mild physical activity and body mass index (BMI) was seen. Conclusion: A significant proportion of undergraduate student had moderate to high risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus found to associated with nuclear family, family history of diabetes, no or mild physical activity and overweight.