NYMC Faculty Publications

Adolescent Prediabetes in a High-Risk Middle East Country: a Cross-Sectional Study

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1177/2054270414536550

Journal Title

JRSM Open

First Page

2054270414536550

Last Page

2054270414536550

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2014

Department

Medicine

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of prediabetes in adolescents living in a high-risk country and to detect risk factors associated with this disorder.

DESIGN: Survey questionnaire combined with physical measurements and blood sugar determination.

SETTING: Doha, capital city of Qatar.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1694 male and female students aged 11-18 years without previously diagnosed diabetes enrolled in four schools.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Blood sugar measurements. Other measured variables included gender, height, weight, abdominal circumference, country of origin, family history of diabetes and frequency of exercise.

RESULTS: Using a random blood sugar ≥7.8 mmol/L or a fasting blood sugar ≥5.5 mmol/L as cutpoints, we identified 4.2% of students (56 boys, 15 girls) as probable prediabetics. In a multivariate model, being boys (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.2), having a diabetic parent (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2) or having a waist-to-height ratio >0.5 (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0) were significantly associated with being a prediabetic. The parental origin of diabetes had a differential effect upon blood sugar. The mean random blood sugar in students with a maternal inheritance pattern of diabetes was 5.61 mmol/L ± 1.0, compared to 5.39 mmol/L ± 0.89 in students with a paternal inheritance pattern (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: In a country with a high risk of adult diabetes, we identified 4.2% of students aged 11-18 as being prediabetic. Risk factors associated with prediabetes included male gender, family history of diabetes and waist-to-height ratio >0.5.

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