ABSTRACT
Detection of the unknown cases of diabetes mellitus and its related risk factors is of great medical and public health interest. To estimate the prevalence of and the environmental risk factors associated with asymptomatic hyperglycemia in apparently healthy adults of the general population of Duhok city, northern Iraq. This is a cross sectional survey conducted on a representative sample of the population of Duhok city. The target population for this study were relatives of patients seen at surgical outpatient Clinics located in Azadi Teaching Hospital during one year period, out of the 5,302 contacted healthy adult subjects, 941 [17.9%] were inclusive. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed diabetes mellitus was 10.9% and impaired glucose homeostasis [impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose] was 14.3%. A large proportion of subjects had increased body weight [69.2%], sedentary lifestyle [67.7%], married [83.6%], and illiterate [66.5%] and nearly one third [33.0%] had positive family history of diabetes mellitus. The prevalence rate of glucose intolerance was higher in subjects with overweight and obese [52.1%], positive family history of diabetes mellitus [36.1%], no physical activity [32.5%], low educational level [29.95], and married [28.9%] versus normal weight [9.3%], negative family history of diabetes mellitus [19.9%], physical activity [10.2%], high educational level [19.2%] and unmarried [6.5%] respectively [p<0.01] for all parameters. Data of this study has highlighted the risk factors and draws attention to the need for large-scale screening, followed up by appropriate management measures