Prevalence of the risk and cases of Type -2 diabetes mellitus among the residents in a rural area of a coastal district of Andhra Pradesh - A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. Approximately 537 million adults are living with diabetes in the world. 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. India is set to be diabetic capital of world with 74.19 million diabetics and 39.39 million undiagnosed diabetics. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of high risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes in adults aged 30 years and above using the Indian Diabetic Research Score (IDRS) in the study population and determine their association with various modifiable, non-modifiable risk factors (age, waist circumference, family history of diabetes, physical activity) and other socio-demographic variables. To estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the study population. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 eligible, sampled residents of the field practice area > 30 years of Rural Health and Training Centre of a private medical college in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.. The data was collected from the study subjects by a using a pre-designed, pretested questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by using Chi-square to determine the association of risk factors and socio-demographical variables of the study subjects with the status of risk of diabetes in them. Results: After excluding the 35 existing diabetics in the study, the data of rest of 172 research subjects was collected, The data of 2 research subjects was missing and was excluded. Maximum 43.5% of the study subjects were in the age group of 35-49 years. Proportion (71.8%) of females was higher than males. As per IDRS, 32 (18.8%) participants were at low risk,102 (60%) participants were at moderate risk and 36 (21.2%) participants were at high risk of diabetes. 4 out of 36 high risk research subjects had Random Capillary Blood Glucose (RCBG) of more than 140 mg/100 ml of blood and were further confirmed by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) to be diabetic. The association of variables like age, literacy, family history of Diabetes, physical activity, waist circumference with categories of risk of development of Diabetes Mellitus was found to be statistically significant. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (existing diabetics=35 and new diabetics=4) was found to be 18.8%, out of the total study sample (n=207). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of the study population were in moderate and high categories of risk of development of Diabetes. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2diabetes. Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications