Risk of diabetes in subjects with sedentary profession and the synergistic effect of positive family history of diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Sedentarism in the workplace, which accelerates risk of diabetes, is least explored in the Indian population. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether prolonged sitting hours in work place predisposes individuals to risk of diabetes and also to estimate risk of diabetes in sedentary workers with a positive family history of diabetes (FHD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data of age-matched 514 subjects previously undiagnosed with diabetes from two different occupational groups (bank employees and schoolteachers) in Chennai, India from opportunistic screening were taken for analysis. The important explanatory variables were body mass index, waist circumference, duration of physical activity, positive FHD, and random capillary blood glucose (RCBG). Logistic regression analyses were done separately to identify determinants of diabetes in each group. Another logistic regression was performed after combining data to estimate risk associated with diabetes among sedentary subjects with positive FHD. RESULTS: Factors associated with elevated RCBG among schoolteachers were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, whereas among bank employees, in addition to blood pressure, duration of sitting in work place and positive FHD were significantly associated with diabetes. Combined data analysis showed that subjects with duration of sitting of ≥180 min/day and a positive FHD are three times at risk of developing diabetes. Adjusting for total physical activity revealed that risk was higher among male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Increased sitting duration for ≥180 min/day at the workplace was associated with elevated RCBG. There was a threefold higher risk for diabetes among these subjects with positive FHD. Encouraging physical activities in such groups, particularly in men, can be beneficial.

Evaluation of performance of A1c and FPG tests for screening newly diagnosed diabetes defined by an OGTT among tuberculosis patients-a study from India.

AIM: The methods used for diagnosis of diabetes have limitations particularly in situations associated with stress hyperglycemia. Aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of A1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) tests for screening newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD) defined by OGTT among tuberculosis (TB) cases in India. METHODS: A total of 983 subjects aged ≥18 years with TB were selected from 7 TB units - 4 urban, 2 rural and 1 semi-urban areas of Tamil Nadu, India, during August 2010-March 2011. Screening for diabetes was carried out by 2-h 75g OGTT. Classification of glucose intolerance status was based on WHO criteria. HbA1c was measured by high performance liquid chromatography using Bio-Rad turbo machine. HbA1c≥47.5mmol/mol was used for diagnosis of diabetes. FPG was estimated by glucose-oxidase method. Known cases of subjects with diabetes were excluded and final analysis was done using data of 779 individuals. The performance of A1c and FPG tests was evaluated against the results of OGTT using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of NDD was 10.8%. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.754 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.83] (p<0.001) for A1c and 0.662 (95% CI 0.58-0.74) for FPG (p<0.001) in NDD subjects. The HbA1c cut-off point of ≥47.5mmol/mol gave a sensitivity of 59.1% and specificity of 91.7%, and the respective values were 34.8% and 97.5% for FPG in subjects with NDD. CONCLUSION: HbA1c performed better than FPG as a screening tool for newly diagnosed diabetes among subjects with TB.

Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes and associated risk factors among tuberculosis patients in India.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognised as an important risk factor to tuberculosis (TB). India has high TB burden, along with rising DM prevalence. There are inadequate data on prevalence of DM and pre-diabetes among TB cases in India. Aim was to determine diabetes prevalence among a cohort of TB cases registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program in selected TB units in Tamil Nadu, India, and assess pattern of diabetes management amongst known cases. METHODS: 827 among the eligible patients (n = 904) underwent HbA1c and anthropometric measurements. OGTT was done for patients without previous history of DM and diagnosis was based on WHO criteria. Details of current treatment regimen of TB and DM and DM complications, if any, were recorded. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographics, habitual risk factors, and type of TB. FINDINGS: DM prevalence was 25.3% (95% CI 22.6-28.5) and that of pre-diabetes 24.5% (95% CI 20.4-27.6). Risk factors associated with DM among TB patients were age (31-35, 36-40, 41-45, 46-50, >50 years vs <30 years) [OR (95% CI) 6.75 (2.36-19.3); 10.46 (3.95-27.7); 18.63 (6.58-52.7); 11.05 (4.31-28.4); 24.7 (9.73-62.7) (p<0.001)], positive family history of DM [3.08 (1.73-5.5) (p<0.001)], sedentary occupation [1.69 (1.10-2.59) (p = 0.016)], and BMI (18.5-22.9, 23-24.9 and ≥25 kg/m(2) vs <18.5 kg/m(2)) [2.03 (1.32-3.12) (p = 0.001); 0.87 (0.31-2.43) (p = 0.78); 1.44 (0.54-3.8) (p = 0.47)]; for pre-diabetes, risk factors were age (36-40, 41-45, 46-50, >50 years vs <30 years) [2.24 (1.1-4.55) (p = 0.026); 6.96 (3.3-14.7); 3.44 (1.83-6.48); 4.3 (2.25-8.2) (p<0.001)], waist circumference [<90 vs. ≥90 cm (men), <80 vs. ≥80 cm (women)] [3.05 (1.35-6.9) (p = 0.007)], smoking [1.92 (1.12-3.28) (p = 0.017)] and monthly income (5000-10,000 INR vs <5000 INR) [0.59 (0.37-0.94) (p = 0.026)]. DM risk was higher among pulmonary TB [3.06 (1.69-5.52) (p<0.001)], especially sputum positive, than non-pulmonary TB. INTERPRETATION: Nearly 50% of TB patients had either diabetes or pre-diabetes.