Comparing the EQ-5D-3 L and EQ-5D-5 L: studying measurement and scores in Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

BACKGROUND: The EuroQoL five-dimensional instrument (EQ-5D) is the favoured preference-based instrument to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in several countries. Two versions of the EQ-5D are available: the 3-level version (EQ-5D-3 L) and the 5-level version (EQ-5D-5 L). This study aims to compare specific measurement properties and scoring of the EQ-5D-3 L (3 L) and EQ-5D-5 L (5 L) in Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients. METHODS: A survey was conducted in a hospital and two primary healthcare centres on Sulawesi Island. Participants were asked to complete the two versions of the EQ-5D instruments. The 3 L and 5 L were compared in terms of distribution and ceiling, discriminative power and test-retest reliability. To determine the consistency of the participants' answers, we checked the redistribution pattern, i.e., the consistency of a participant's scores in both versions. RESULTS: A total of 198 T2DM outpatients (mean age 59.90 ± 11.06) completed the 3 L and 5 L surveys. A total of 46 health states for 3 L and 90 health states for 5 L were reported. The '11121' health state was reported most often: 17% in the 3 L and 13% in the 5 L. The results suggested a lower ceiling effect for 5 L (11%) than for 3 L (15%). Regarding redistribution, only 6.1% of responses were found to be inconsistent in this study. The 5 L had higher discriminative power than the 3 L version. Reliability as reflected by the index score was 0.64 for 3 L and 0.74 for 5 L. Pain/discomfort was the dimension mostly affected, whereas the self-care dimension was the least affected. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the 5 L-version of the EQ-5D instrument performs better than the 3 L-version in T2DM outpatients in Indonesia, regarding measurement and scoring properties. As such, our study supports the use of the 5 L as the preferred health-related quality of life measurement tool. We did not do a trial but this study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta, Indonesia (document number KE/FK/1188/EC, 12 November 2014, amended 16 March 2015).

Hashimoto's thyroiditis following Graves' disease.

Both Graves' disease and chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) are autoimmune diseases of thyroid gland. Graves' disease is caused by stimulation of TSH receptor located on the thyroid gland by an antibody, which is known as TSH receptor antibody (TRAb). Furthermore, this may lead to hyperplasia and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. On the contrary, the cause of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is thought due to a TSH stimulation-blocking antibody (TSBAb) which blocks the action of TSH hormone and subsequently brings damage and atrophy to thyroid gland. Approximately 15-20% of patients with Graves' disease had been reported to have spontaneous hypothyroidism resulting from the chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease). Pathogenesis for chronic thyroiditis following anti-thyroid drug treatment in patients with Graves' disease remains unclear. It has been estimated that chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease, which occurs following the Graves' disease episode is due to extended immune response in Graves' disease. It includes the immune response to endogenous thyroid antigens, i.e. thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin, which may enhance lymphocyte infiltration and finally causes Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We report four cases of chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) in patients who have been previously diagnosed with Graves' hyperthyroidism. In three cases, Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs in 7 to 25 years after the treatment of Grave's disease; while the other case has it only after few months of Grave's disease treatment. The diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis) was based on clinical manifestation, high TSHs level, positive thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody, and supported by positive results of fine needle aspiration biopsy. Moreover, the result of histopathological test has also confirmed the diagnosis in two cases. All cases have been successfully treated by levothyroxine treatment.

Gestational transient thyrotoxicosis.

Gestational transient thyrotoxicosis refers to non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism in pregnant women and it is associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. During pregnancy, there are some alterations in thyroid gland, such as elevation of thyroxine binding globulin, increased iodium clearance in kidneys, and stimulation of thyroid gland by human chorionic gonadotropin. Hitherto, the pathophysiology underlying the development of gestational transient thyrotoxicosis has not been fully recognized. Studies showed that human chorionic gonadotropin, an agonist of thyroid stimulating hormone, may stimulate thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, leading to increased thyroid hormone. Diagnosis of gestational transient thyrotoxicosis is established based on inexistence history of previous hyperthyroidism, elevation of thyroid hormone, absence of hyperthyroid abnormalities signs on physical examination (such as: enlargement of thyroid gland, exophthalmia), and the absent of positive thyroid autoantibody. Generally, gestational transient thyrotoxicosis does not require medication, unless if hyperemesis gravidarum is present, thus the patient has to be hospitalized to receive intravenous rehydration, electrolyte correction and antiemetic medication. On cases with worsened or prolonged symptoms, anti-thyroid agents such as short term propiltiourasil is needed.

Adrenal incidentaloma.

Adrenal Incidentaloma is an adrenal tumor, which is unidentified before the imaging procedures conducted for an abnormality which is initially unforeseen as an adrenal disease. Symptoms and/or clinical signs of adrenal tumor do not have to be present prior to a diagnosis. Adrenal Incidentaloma can be divided into non-hypersecreting adrenal adenoma, hypersecreting tumor, primary adrenal carcinoma, other adrenal mass, and metastases. The majority of adrenal tumor is non-hypersecreting adrenal adenoma, but it is always considered as hypersecreting tumor until proven otherwise. Some conditions that can be found due to hormonal activity of adrenal incidentaloma is subclinical Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, aldosteronoma (Conn's disease), and several tumors which secrete androgen and sex hormone. Diagnostic approach of adrenal incidentaloma is focused on two main problems, which are, whether the lesion is hormonally active even though lacking characteristic clinical signs, and whether the lesion is benign or malignant; thus it needs hormonal and radiologic evaluation, even a fine needle biopsy. The management for adrenal incidentaloma includes surgical removal for hormonally active adrenal tumors, or inactive tumors with size less than 4 cm. Monitoring of tumor's hormone level and size are necessary for non-hypersecreting tumor without surgical removal.

Isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia: concept and clinical significance.

The American Diabetes Association has strongly recommended that fasting plasma glucose should be sufficient for establishing diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; while World Health Organization supports to maintain the oral glucose tolerance test. Several epidemiological studies confirmed that postprandial hyperglycemia is a significant predictor for cardiovascular mortality and incidence. Post-challenge hyperglycemia following the oral glucose tolerance test is a condition similar to postprandial hyperglycemia. Isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia is a type of diabetes mellitus with a normal fasting plasma glucose level measured by oral glucose tolerance test. However, the glucose level following 2-hour post-challenge glucose test is >or= 200 mg/dl. Several long-term studies on population have shown that subjects with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia have higher risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. Moreover, they also have an equal risk as those who have previously had diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is suggested that for screening of diabetes mellitus, especially in the elderly population, oral glucose tolerance test should be performed in addition to measuring fasting plasma glucose.

Role of metformin in the initiation of pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes: an Asian-Pacific perspective.

Increases in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes of 30-60% will occur in many Asian-Pacific countries by 2025, driven by urbanisation, sedentary habits and energy-rich diets. Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes are closely interrelated. Optimal control of diabetes and associated risk factors has reduced the risk of diabetes-related complications. In the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), metformin reduced the risk of macrovascular complications and retrospective analyses have confirmed the efficacy of metformin in improving clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. This growing body of evidence has led to the recommendation of metformin as optimum initial pharmacotherapy in overweight type 2 diabetic patients. Obesity is less prevalent in the Asian-Pacific population than in Caucasian populations. Nevertheless, metformin has multiple beneficial metabolic effects, which provide sufficient rationale for it to be recommended as the initial oral anti-diabetic pharmacotherapy, alone or in combination, irrespective of body mass index. This recommendation is consistent with global guidelines and regional recommendations for the Asian-Pacific region from the International Diabetes Federation. These recommendations can serve as templates for development of local guidelines for Asian people with diabetes, given the ethnic and cultural diversity within the region.

Asymptomatic diabetes: the difference between population-based and office-based screening.

AIM: To compare the results between population-based and office-based diabetes screening. METHODS: In 1997, a population-based screening was performed on a group of government employees and retired subjects in the Makassar Municipality. Since the year 2000, we performed screening at the clinic. For clinical-based screening, we focused the screening on those with high risks for developing diabetes mellitus, i.e. all subjects aged > or =45 or those aged < 45 with one or more of the following abnormalities: obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2), elevated blood pressure (> or =140/90 mmHg in adults), family history of diabetes, previous identified IFG or IGT, HDL-cholesterol < or =35 mg/dl and/or triglyceride > or =250 mg/dL, and history of gestational diabetes mellitus or delivery of babies > or =4000 gram. For population-based screening, the criteria for diabetes mellitus was based on a single test 2-hours post load (75 gram glucose), while for office-based screening, the WHO l999 was used i.e. fasting and 2-hours post 75 gram glucose load (OGTT). RESULTS: During the screening in the population, 941 subjects were screened, 290 women and 651 men. There were 51 diabetic subjects, or a prevalence of 5.42%, 21 women or 7.24% of all women, and 30 men or 4.60% of all men. At the clinical setting, 907 were screened, 483 women and 424 men. Among these subjects, 155 fulfilled the diabetes criteria, with a prevalence of 17.1%. There were 78 diabetic women or 16.1% of all women, and 77 men or 18.2% of all men. If the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in the clinical setting is based only on 2 hours post load (the same as for population-based) only 70 patients can be detected, for a prevalence of 7.7%, which is still higher compared to the results of the population-based screening. All figures obtained from the office-based screening were higher as compared to the population-based results. CONCLUSION: These results show that office-based screening detected more asymptomatic diabetes compared to population-based screening. It is suggested that early detection of asymptomatic diabetes is performed at the clinic, either at the hospital or doctor's private office.

Fasting insulin, adiponectin, hs-CRP levels, and the components of metabolic syndrome.

AIM: in this study we report the relationship between fasting plasma insulin, C-reactive protein, adiponectin levels and the components of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome we used the modified NCEP ATP criteria for Asian people. Complete routine physical examinations were performed to all subjects including blood pressure, waist circumference. After 12-hours fasting, blood sample was taken for fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and lipid profiles. Fasting insulin was determined by RIA, adiponectin by ELISA, and hs-CRP by sensitive immunometric assay. According to NCEP ATP III, the metabolic syndrome consists of five components. Subjects fulfilling the studied criteria were divided into five groups according to the component/components they had. RESULTS: during the study, 118 adult individuals can be covered, including 88 patients (68,8%) with metabolic syndrome. They consist of 19 subjects who had only 1 component, 21 subjects had 2 components, 31 subjects with 3 components, 34 subjects with 4 components, and 23 subjects had 5 component. All subjects were overweight/obese (BMI > 23 kg/m), but patients with metabolic syndrome were significantly more obese compared to the non-metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in age among all individuals. Fasting insulin, hs-CRP levels is increasing with the increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome, being higher among those with 3-5 components, while adiponectin is decreasing with the number of the components. Fasting insulin 3,5+1,1 uU/ml, 3,6+1,4 uU/ml, 5,9+1,8 uU/ml, 7,8+2,1 uU/ml, 7,9+2,3 uU/ml respectively, hs-CRP 2,8+1,2 mg/L, 5.6+3.4 mg/L, 7.4+4.4 mg/L, 9.0+4.7 mg/L, 9.5+3,9 mg/L, and adiponectin 9.1+3.5 ng/ml, 8.6+1.6 ng/ml, 3.4+1.2 ng/ml, 3.2+1.3 ng/ml, 2.8+0.9 ng/ml in 3,4,5 components respectively. CONCLUSION: there is a relationship between the number of components of metabolic syndrome and the increasing levels of fasting insulin, and hs-CRP, and low levels of adiponectin. These may explain in part the risk of cardiovascular events among individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome and its components in men.

AIM: Report metabolic syndrome and its components in men using modified NCEP ATP III criteria. METHODS: Subjects were al apparently healthy men coming for routine medical examination to the private clinic and Internal Medicine Clinic of Jaury Academic Hospital October 2002 to January 2003 were asked to participate in this study. Complete physical examination was done to all subjects including BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Blood samples were collected after 12 hour fasting for triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol examination as well as oral glucose tolerance test. As proposed by WHO, Asian adult male waist circumference is abnormal if >or= 90 cm. Using modified NCEP ATP III criteria, diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made only if a combination of at least three of the following abnormalities: waist circumference >or= 90 cm, blood pressure >or= 130/ >or= 85 mmHg, triglyceride level >or= 150 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol level < 40 mg/dl, glucose intolerance including imparied fasting glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes mellitus were found. RESULTS: Total number of subjects was 227 men aged between 21-81 years, 127 males (56.4$) fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. From a total of 151 subjects with waist circumference >or= 90 cm, 112 subjects (79.2%) fulfilled the criteria, and this gave a relative risk of 11.3 times higher to these subjects compared to those with waist circumference < 90 cm (95% CI 5.76-22.16; p< 0.0001). By reducing the waist circumference, 178 subjects were found to have WC >or= 85 cm, and 117 subjects (66.5%) fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy men is common, especially in those with large WC. Waist circumference > 90 cm may be used as screening tool to detect metabolic syndrome in men.

Comparison of The World Health Organization (WHO) two-step strategy and OGTT for diabetes mellitus screening.

The new diagnostic criteria recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will only detect diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia, and leave patients with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia (IPCH) and imparied glucose tolerance (IGT) unidentified. The WHO recommends that all those with abnormal fasting glucose should undergo the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to exclude the diagnosis of diabetes (two-step strategy). This two-step strategy will leave out subjects with normal fasting glucose (<109 mg/dl). The aim of this study is to compare the WHO two-step strategy and the gold standard OGTT for all subjects. We re-analyzed the results of 907 high-risk patients who have been screened for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. All subjects were screened with an OGTT containing a 75-gram glucose load after fasting for 12 hours. The results were classified into three categories: the ADA criteria, the two-step strategy, and the OGTT. Using the ADA criteria, these 907 subjects can be classified has having normal fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose - FPG < 109 mg/dl) in 715 subjects (78.9%), abnormal fasting glucose (FPG 110 - 125 mg/dl) in 107 subjects (11.8%), and diabetes mellitus (FPG > 126 mg/dl) in 85 subjects (9.4%). The WHO two-step strategy performed in 107 IFG subjects identified another 30 diabetic patients (FPG < 109 mg/dl and 2 hour post load > 200 mg/dl = IPCH) or 3.3%, and 49 patients with IGT, or 5.4% from all subjects. If the OGTT was performed on the 715 normal fasting glucose, it could identify another 40 diabetic patients or 4.4%, and another 178 IGT patients, or 19.6% of all subjects. This means that without OGTT to all subjects, 40 diabetic patients or 25.8% of all diabetic patients and 178 patients or 78.4% from all IGT subjects would have remained unidentified. From this study we can conclude that applying the WHO two-step strategy in subjects with IFG would fail to detect 25.8% of diabetic patients and 78.4% of IGT subjects. It is recommended that the old strategy of screening--the gold standard OGTT--should be used instead of the two-step strategy, at least in high-risk groups.

Disturbance of B-vitamin status in people with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia--link to renal status, glycemic control and vascular inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is associated with mishandling of thiamine in the kidney and development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study is to assess the disturbance of thiamine and other B-vitamin status of patients with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients with type 2 diabetes with and without microalbuminuria or albuminuria and 39 healthy people were recruited. After a 2-month washout period for B-vitamin supplementation, markers of vitamins B(1), B(6), B(9) and B(12), were determined. RESULTS: Fractional excretion of thiamine (22.8 versus 33.5%; P<0.05) and urinary excretion of the vitamin B(6) degradation product 4-pyridoxic acid (0.081 versus 0.133 µmol/g creatinine, P<0.001) was increased in patients with type 2 diabetes with respect to healthy controls. There was also increased total plasma cobalamin (398 versus 547 pmol/l, P<0.001) and holotranscobalamin (74 versus 97 pmol/l, P<0.001) in patients with type 2 diabetes. In multiple regression analysis these were linked to HbA1c, duration of diabetes and systolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose, folate and C-reactive protein, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was renal mishandling of thiamine, increased degradation of vitamin B(6) and cytosolic metabolic resistance to vitamin B(12) in patients with type 2 diabetes in Indonesia.

Managing diabetes in Asia: overcoming obstacles and the role of DPP-IV inhibitors.

Asia bears the world's greatest burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and prevalence is increasing rapidly. Compared to other races, Asians develop T2DM younger, at a lower degree of obesity, suffer longer from its complications and die earlier. Curbing this epidemic requires an integrated, risk-based, and multidisciplinary approach. Inadequately managed T2DM has macrovascular and microvascular sequelae, Asians with T2DM being particularly susceptible to diabetic nephropathy. Earlier and more intensive monitoring and management of risk factors are required, especially for patients with, or at risk of, renal impairment. Particular challenges of T2DM management in Asia include: lack of access to specialist healthcare, insufficient clinical evaluation and delayed diagnosis. As in Caucasians, conventional treatment modalities are limited by deteriorating glycaemic control with disease progression and there is an unmet need for efficacious, safe, cost-effective and convenient pharmacotherapies for treating different stages of T2DM and preventing its complications, particularly in high-risk patients. There is a trend towards increasing use of DPP-IV inhibitors, which are no less efficacious and safe in Asians than Caucasians and may have some advantages over existing oral antidiabetic agents, particularly for certain high-risk groups. Such agents may play a significant future role in the management of T2DM.

Impact of bone marker feedback on adherence to once monthly ibandronate for osteoporosis among Asian postmenopausal women.

AIM: This study assesses the impact of serum carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) bone marker feedback (BMF) on adherence to ibandronate treatment in Asian postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: This was a 12-month (6-monthly phased), randomized, prospective, open-label, multi-center study conducted in 596 (of 628 enrolled) postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (< or = 85 years old) who were naïve, lapsed, or current bisphosphonate users. Patients were randomized into two arms: serum CTX BMF at 3 months versus no-BMF. Once-monthly 150 mg ibandronate tablet was administered for 12 months and adherence to therapy was assessed at 6 and 12 months. In addition, patient satisfaction and safety of ibandronate treatment were also assessed. RESULTS: Serum CTX BMF at 3 months showed no impact on adherence. The proportions of adherent patients were comparable in the BMF versus no-BMF arms (92.6%vs. 96.0%, P = 0.16); overall, serum CTX levels were similar for adherent and non-adherent patients. However, BMF patients felt more informed about their osteoporosis (P < 0.001) and more satisfied (P < 0.01) than no-BMF patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Asian postmenopausal osteoporosis patients in this study had a high adherence rate to once-monthly ibandronate therapy. Use of serum CTX BMF had no further impact on increasing adherence, but increased treatment satisfaction.

Gestational transient thyrotoxicosis.

Gestational transient thyrotoxicosis refers to non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism in pregnant women and it is associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. During pregnancy, there are some alterations in thyroid gland, such as elevation of thyroxine binding globulin, increased iodium clearance in kidneys, and stimulation of thyroid gland by human chorionic gonadotropin. Hitherto, the pathophysiology underlying the development of gestational transient thyrotoxicosis has not been fully recognized. Studies showed that human chorionic gonadotropin, an agonist of thyroid stimulating hormone, may stimulate thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, leading to increased thyroid hormone. Diagnosis of gestational transient thyrotoxicosis is established based on inexistence history of previous hyperthyroidism, elevation of thyroid hormone, absence of hyperthyroid abnormalities signs on physical examination (such as: enlargement of thyroid gland, exophthalmia), and the absent of positive thyroid autoantibody. Generally, gestational transient thyrotoxicosis does not require medication, unless if hyperemesis gravidarum is present, thus the patient has to be hospitalized to receive intravenous rehydration, electrolyte correction and antiemetic medication. On cases with worsened or prolonged symptoms, anti-thyroid agents such as short term propiltiourasil is needed.

Adrenal incidentaloma.

Adrenal Incidentaloma is an adrenal tumor, which is unidentified before the imaging procedures conducted for an abnormality which is initially unforeseen as an adrenal disease. Symptoms and/or clinical signs of adrenal tumor do not have to be present prior to a diagnosis. Adrenal Incidentaloma can be divided into non-hypersecreting adrenal adenoma, hypersecreting tumor, primary adrenal carcinoma, other adrenal mass, and metastases. The majority of adrenal tumor is non-hypersecreting adrenal adenoma, but it is always considered as hypersecreting tumor until proven otherwise. Some conditions that can be found due to hormonal activity of adrenal incidentaloma is subclinical Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, aldosteronoma (Conn's disease), and several tumors which secrete androgen and sex hormone. Diagnostic approach of adrenal incidentaloma is focused on two main problems, which are, whether the lesion is hormonally active even though lacking characteristic clinical signs, and whether the lesion is benign or malignant; thus it needs hormonal and radiologic evaluation, even a fine needle biopsy. The management for adrenal incidentaloma includes surgical removal for hormonally active adrenal tumors, or inactive tumors with size less than 4 cm. Monitoring of tumor's hormone level and size are necessary for non-hypersecreting tumor without surgical removal.

Isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia: concept and clinical significance.

The American Diabetes Association has strongly recommended that fasting plasma glucose should be sufficient for establishing diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; while World Health Organization supports to maintain the oral glucose tolerance test. Several epidemiological studies confirmed that postprandial hyperglycemia is a significant predictor for cardiovascular mortality and incidence. Post-challenge hyperglycemia following the oral glucose tolerance test is a condition similar to postprandial hyperglycemia. Isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia is a type of diabetes mellitus with a normal fasting plasma glucose level measured by oral glucose tolerance test. However, the glucose level following 2-hour post-challenge glucose test is >or= 200 mg/dl. Several long-term studies on population have shown that subjects with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia have higher risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. Moreover, they also have an equal risk as those who have previously had diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is suggested that for screening of diabetes mellitus, especially in the elderly population, oral glucose tolerance test should be performed in addition to measuring fasting plasma glucose.

Fasting insulin, adiponectin, hs-CRP levels, and the components of metabolic syndrome.

AIM: in this study we report the relationship between fasting plasma insulin, C-reactive protein, adiponectin levels and the components of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome we used the modified NCEP ATP criteria for Asian people. Complete routine physical examinations were performed to all subjects including blood pressure, waist circumference. After 12-hours fasting, blood sample was taken for fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and lipid profiles. Fasting insulin was determined by RIA, adiponectin by ELISA, and hs-CRP by sensitive immunometric assay. According to NCEP ATP III, the metabolic syndrome consists of five components. Subjects fulfilling the studied criteria were divided into five groups according to the component/components they had. RESULTS: during the study, 118 adult individuals can be covered, including 88 patients (68,8%) with metabolic syndrome. They consist of 19 subjects who had only 1 component, 21 subjects had 2 components, 31 subjects with 3 components, 34 subjects with 4 components, and 23 subjects had 5 component. All subjects were overweight/obese (BMI > 23 kg/m), but patients with metabolic syndrome were significantly more obese compared to the non-metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in age among all individuals. Fasting insulin, hs-CRP levels is increasing with the increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome, being higher among those with 3-5 components, while adiponectin is decreasing with the number of the components. Fasting insulin 3,5+1,1 uU/ml, 3,6+1,4 uU/ml, 5,9+1,8 uU/ml, 7,8+2,1 uU/ml, 7,9+2,3 uU/ml respectively, hs-CRP 2,8+1,2 mg/L, 5.6+3.4 mg/L, 7.4+4.4 mg/L, 9.0+4.7 mg/L, 9.5+3,9 mg/L, and adiponectin 9.1+3.5 ng/ml, 8.6+1.6 ng/ml, 3.4+1.2 ng/ml, 3.2+1.3 ng/ml, 2.8+0.9 ng/ml in 3,4,5 components respectively. CONCLUSION: there is a relationship between the number of components of metabolic syndrome and the increasing levels of fasting insulin, and hs-CRP, and low levels of adiponectin. These may explain in part the risk of cardiovascular events among individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Asymptomatic diabetes: the difference between population-based and office-based screening.

AIM: To compare the results between population-based and office-based diabetes screening. METHODS: In 1997, a population-based screening was performed on a group of government employees and retired subjects in the Makassar Municipality. Since the year 2000, we performed screening at the clinic. For clinical-based screening, we focused the screening on those with high risks for developing diabetes mellitus, i.e. all subjects aged > or =45 or those aged < 45 with one or more of the following abnormalities: obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2), elevated blood pressure (> or =140/90 mmHg in adults), family history of diabetes, previous identified IFG or IGT, HDL-cholesterol < or =35 mg/dl and/or triglyceride > or =250 mg/dL, and history of gestational diabetes mellitus or delivery of babies > or =4000 gram. For population-based screening, the criteria for diabetes mellitus was based on a single test 2-hours post load (75 gram glucose), while for office-based screening, the WHO l999 was used i.e. fasting and 2-hours post 75 gram glucose load (OGTT). RESULTS: During the screening in the population, 941 subjects were screened, 290 women and 651 men. There were 51 diabetic subjects, or a prevalence of 5.42%, 21 women or 7.24% of all women, and 30 men or 4.60% of all men. At the clinical setting, 907 were screened, 483 women and 424 men. Among these subjects, 155 fulfilled the diabetes criteria, with a prevalence of 17.1%. There were 78 diabetic women or 16.1% of all women, and 77 men or 18.2% of all men. If the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in the clinical setting is based only on 2 hours post load (the same as for population-based) only 70 patients can be detected, for a prevalence of 7.7%, which is still higher compared to the results of the population-based screening. All figures obtained from the office-based screening were higher as compared to the population-based results. CONCLUSION: These results show that office-based screening detected more asymptomatic diabetes compared to population-based screening. It is suggested that early detection of asymptomatic diabetes is performed at the clinic, either at the hospital or doctor's private office.

Comparison of The World Health Organization (WHO) two-step strategy and OGTT for diabetes mellitus screening.

The new diagnostic criteria recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will only detect diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia, and leave patients with isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia (IPCH) and imparied glucose tolerance (IGT) unidentified. The WHO recommends that all those with abnormal fasting glucose should undergo the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to exclude the diagnosis of diabetes (two-step strategy). This two-step strategy will leave out subjects with normal fasting glucose (<109 mg/dl). The aim of this study is to compare the WHO two-step strategy and the gold standard OGTT for all subjects. We re-analyzed the results of 907 high-risk patients who have been screened for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. All subjects were screened with an OGTT containing a 75-gram glucose load after fasting for 12 hours. The results were classified into three categories: the ADA criteria, the two-step strategy, and the OGTT. Using the ADA criteria, these 907 subjects can be classified has having normal fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose - FPG < 109 mg/dl) in 715 subjects (78.9%), abnormal fasting glucose (FPG 110 - 125 mg/dl) in 107 subjects (11.8%), and diabetes mellitus (FPG > 126 mg/dl) in 85 subjects (9.4%). The WHO two-step strategy performed in 107 IFG subjects identified another 30 diabetic patients (FPG < 109 mg/dl and 2 hour post load > 200 mg/dl = IPCH) or 3.3%, and 49 patients with IGT, or 5.4% from all subjects. If the OGTT was performed on the 715 normal fasting glucose, it could identify another 40 diabetic patients or 4.4%, and another 178 IGT patients, or 19.6% of all subjects. This means that without OGTT to all subjects, 40 diabetic patients or 25.8% of all diabetic patients and 178 patients or 78.4% from all IGT subjects would have remained unidentified. From this study we can conclude that applying the WHO two-step strategy in subjects with IFG would fail to detect 25.8% of diabetic patients and 78.4% of IGT subjects. It is recommended that the old strategy of screening--the gold standard OGTT--should be used instead of the two-step strategy, at least in high-risk groups.