The occurrence of prediabetes among patients in a PrimaryCare setting in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

OBJECTICE To determine the occurrence of pre-diabetes inpatients in a primary care setting in Trinidad and to identifythe risk factors associated with its development. DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a prospective cross-sectionalstudy, 44 patients who met the eligibility criteria where randomlyselected to enter the study. After a 12 hour fast, HbA1c, fastingplasma glucose, HDL and LDL cholesterol were measured, aswell as BMI and waist circumference. RESULTS: Of the 44 sampled participants, 77.3 % (n=34) werefemales and 22.7% (n=10) were males. 23 of the sampledfemales were over the normal weight for their height, and ofthe 8 pre-diabetic females, 75% had a waist circumference of>102cm, signifying abdominal obesity.A higher mean value was obtained for the lipid profile (excludingthe HLDL values) and HbA1c in the pre-diabetic population. CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients with prediabetes was25%. (95% CI 14.6-39.4) BMI, Triglycerides and LDL werefound to have a significant association with pre-diabetes(p=0.014, p=0.004 respectively). There needs to be a higherindex of suspicion for concomitant cardiovascular disease inpre-diabetics. Future interventions for monitoring this high riskgroup should include assessment of cardiometabolic risk factors.