Incidence and predictors of abnormal fasting plasma glucose among the university hospital employees in Thailand

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence rates and predictors of type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFG) among the employees of a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Totally 2370 and 1619 workers without diabetes and IFG at baseline, respectively, who were +35 years old were followed up during 2001–2005. Type 2 diabetes incidence rates (95% CI) were 13.6 (8.4–22.3) and 6.4 (4.5–9.1) per 1000 PYs, respectively, for men and women, while those of the IFG were 37.8 (26.3–54.4) and 23.6 (19.3–29.0) per 1000 PYs, respectively, for both genders. Baseline FBS predicted future IFG risk even at the levels as low as 63–70 mg/dl. The OR (95% CI) of IFG for those with baseline FPG of 63–70, 71–80, and >80 mg/dl—compared to those with baseline FPG ≤62 mg/dl—were 2.51 (1.12–5.64), 5.39 (2.51–11.56), and 8.30 (3.67–18.75), respectively. Future diabetes risk was observed only in those with baseline FPG of 96 mg/dl or higher, with the OR (95% CI) of 6.0 (2.29–15.75). In conclusion, baseline FPG even at the level as low as 63–70 mg/dl predicts future IFG risk among a hospital employee group in Thailand, while increased diabetes risk was found only in those at the FBS level of ≥96 mg/dl.