Prevalence of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) in Southern Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and islet autoantibodies in an adult population from Southern Spain. RESEARCH AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in Southern Spain of 1226 people, age 18-65 years. Clinical data were obtained and a blood sample taken to measure autoantibodies (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAb), tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA2Ab), and insulin antibodies (IAA)). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also given to 982 of the subjects. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus according to the WHO 1979 criteria was 10.9% and according to the ADA 1997 criteria it was 14.7% (8.8% were unaware of their diabetes). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was 12.4% and of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) 11.5%. The prevalence of GADAb+ in the general population was 0.9% and in the diabetic population 3.7%. There were no significant differences between groups in the prevalence of IA2Ab or IAA (both were 0.8% in the general population). Of the three autoantibodies studied, only GADAb were significantly different in the diabetic population (P=0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and LADA are high in the south of Spain.

[Physical activity and cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in general population]. / Actividad física y factores de riesgo cardiovascular y metabólico en la población general.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate in a cross-section, populational study the association between daily physical activity and various metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 1226 randomly selected persons (aged 18-65 years) from a town in southeast Spain were evaluated for studying the association between the level of daily physical activity, both in and out of working hours, and the following variables: body mass index, plasma lipids, hypertension, obesity, altered baseline glycemia, and abnormal glucose tolerance. RESULTS: The intensity of the physical activity at work was related negatively with insulin resistance and levels of LDL cholesterol, and positively with HDL cholesterol. The probability of hypertension, altered baseline glycemia, and abnormal glucose tolerance was greater in those undertaking less daily physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Daily physical activity, considered as part of the lifestyle, is related with the presence of components of the metabolic syndrome. An increase in daily physical activity should contribute to improve preventible cardiovascular risk factors.