Pakistan National Diabetes Survey: prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in Baluchistan province

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IG T) and their relationship to age and obesity was estimated in a population- based survey in urban and rural areas in Baluchistan province, Pakistan. Cl uster sampling of 834 adults (260 men, 574 women) in the urban and 570 adul ts (175 men, 395 women) in the rural areas was carried out. Oral glucose to lerance tests were performed in adults aged 25 years and above. Diagnosis o f diabetes and IGT was according to the: World Health Organization (WHO) cr iteria. The overall prevalence of diabetes and IGT in both sexes was 10.8 a nd 11.9% (urban) versus 6.5 and 11.2%; (rural), respectively. The crude pre valence of diabetes in the urban versus rural area was 11.1% in men and 10. 6% in women versus 10.3% in men and 4.8% in women. As against this IGT was found in 6.5% of men and 14.3% of women in the urban area and 7.4% of men a nd 13.0% of women in the rural setting. The major risk factors associated w ith diabetes were age, positive family history (F/H) of diabetes and obesit y. Central obesity was more strongly associated with diabetes in women than men. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.