Novel Asian-Specific Visceral Adiposity Indices Are Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Korean Adults

Background@#The Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and new visceral adiposity index (NVAI) are novel indices of visceral adiposity used to predict metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in Asian populations. However, the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been investigated. We aimed to characterize the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with the prevalence of CKD in Korean adults. @*Methods@#A total of 14,068 participants in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (6,182 men and 7,886 women) were included. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were employed to compare the associations between indices of adiposity and CKD, and a logistic regression model was used to characterize the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with CKD prevalence. @*Results@#The areas under the ROC curves for CVAI and NVAI were significantly larger than for the other indices, including the visceral adiposity index and lipid accumulation product, in both men and women (all P<0.001). In addition, high CVAI or NVAI was significantly associated with a high CKD prevalence in both men (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 3.48 in CVAI and OR, 6.47; 95% CI, 2.91 to 14.38 in NVAI, P<0.05) and women (OR, 4.87; 95% CI, 1.85 to 12.79 in CVAI and OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.35 to 6.82 in NVAI, P<0.05); this association remained significant after adjustment for multiple confounding factors in men and women. @*Conclusion@#CVAI and NVAI are positively associated with CKD prevalence in a Korean population. CVAI and NVAI may be useful for the identification of CKD in Asian populations, including in Korea.

Year-Long Trend in Glycated Hemoglobin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

It has been suggested that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, no study has examined yearly trends in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels after the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, we performed a retrospective analysis of HbA1c concentrations during the early period of the COVID-19 outbreak (COVID-19 cohort) and then compared the yearly trend in the mean HbA1c level, along with fluctuations in HbA1c levels, with those during previous years (non-COVID-19 cohorts). We observed that the mean HbA1c level in patients with T2DM increased during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. After 6 months, HbA1c levels in the COVID-19 cohort returned to levels seen in the non-COVID-19 cohorts. The data suggest that vulnerable patients with T2DM should be monitored closely during the early period of a pandemic to ensure they receive appropriate care.

Impact of urgently initiated tele-prescription due to COVID-19 on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background/Aims@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that had affected more than 13,000 people in South Korea by July 2020. To prevent spread of COVID-19, tele-prescription was permitted temporarily. This study investigated the impact of tele-prescription on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. @*Methods@#Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations were retrospectively analyzed in patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with tele-prescription because of COVID-19 and those who were treated by face-to-face care (non-tele-prescription group) enrolled at the same period of time. Mean HbA1c concentrations and mean change in HbA1c concentration (ΔHbA1c) were compared in these two groups. @*Results@#The mean HbA1c levels of patients were significantly higher after than before the tele-prescription period (7.46% ± 1.24% vs. 7.27% ± 1.13%, p < 0.05). Mean ΔHbA1c was significantly higher in the tele-prescription than in the non-tele-prescription group (0.19% ± 0.68% vs. 0.04% ± 0.95%, p < 0.05). HbA1c was significantly greater in patients taking fewer oral hypoglycemic agents, no insulin, fewer comorbidities (e.g., coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, and diabetic neuropathy), and higher baseline HbA1c. @*Conclusions@#Tele-prescription may worsen glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes during public health crises.

Impact of urgently initiated tele-prescription due to COVID-19 on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background/Aims@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that had affected more than 13,000 people in South Korea by July 2020. To prevent spread of COVID-19, tele-prescription was permitted temporarily. This study investigated the impact of tele-prescription on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. @*Methods@#Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations were retrospectively analyzed in patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with tele-prescription because of COVID-19 and those who were treated by face-to-face care (non-tele-prescription group) enrolled at the same period of time. Mean HbA1c concentrations and mean change in HbA1c concentration (ΔHbA1c) were compared in these two groups. @*Results@#The mean HbA1c levels of patients were significantly higher after than before the tele-prescription period (7.46% ± 1.24% vs. 7.27% ± 1.13%, p < 0.05). Mean ΔHbA1c was significantly higher in the tele-prescription than in the non-tele-prescription group (0.19% ± 0.68% vs. 0.04% ± 0.95%, p < 0.05). HbA1c was significantly greater in patients taking fewer oral hypoglycemic agents, no insulin, fewer comorbidities (e.g., coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, and diabetic neuropathy), and higher baseline HbA1c. @*Conclusions@#Tele-prescription may worsen glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes during public health crises.

Evogliptin, a Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor, Attenuates Renal Fibrosis Caused by Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction in Mice

Renal fibrosis is considered to be the final common outcome of chronic kidney disease. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have demonstrated protective effects against diabetic kidney disease. However, the anti-fibrotic effect of evogliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, has not been studied. Here, we report the beneficial effects of evogliptin on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis in mice. Evogliptin attenuated UUO-induced renal atrophy and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated that evogliptin treatment inhibits pro-fibrotic gene expressions and extracellular matrix production. In vitro findings showed that the beneficial effects of evogliptin on renal fibrosis are mediated by inhibition of the transforming growth factor-β/Smad3 signaling pathway. The present study demonstrates that evogliptin is protective against UUO-induced renal fibrosis, suggesting that its clinical applications could extend to the treatment of kidney disease of non-diabetic origin.

Serum Levels of PCSK9 Are Associated with Coronary Angiographic Severity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating protein that promotes degradation of the low density lipoprotein receptor. PCSK9 has emerged as a target for lipid-lowering therapy, but the predictive value of the serum level of PCSK9 for the severity of coronary disease is largely unknown. METHODS: From December 2009 to July 2012, 121 individuals who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) because of clinically suspected acute coronary syndrome were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of PCSK9 and metabolic parameters were measured. SYNTAX (SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with [paclitaxel-eluting] TAXUS stent and cardiac surgery) and GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) scores were calculated. RESULTS: Individuals with CAG lesions (n=100) had significantly higher levels of PCSK9 than those without lesions (n=21). The study population was stratified into three groups according to serum levels of PCSK9. The odds radio for occurrence of one or more CAG lesions was significantly higher in the group with the highest level of PCSK9 (odds ratio, 7.468; P=0.011) than in the group with the lowest level of PCSK9. Serum PCSK9 was positively associated with the number of involved coronary arteries. Multivariable linear regression indicated that levels of PCSK9 were positively correlated with GRACE risk scores and SYNTAX scores. CONCLUSION: Serum PCSK9 concentrations are higher in patients with coronary artery lesions, and are associated with SYNTAX and GRACE scores, suggesting that PCSK9 is a potential biomarker of the severity of coronary artery disease.

Relationship between Circulating FGF21 Concentrations and the Severity of Coronary Artery Damage in Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease

OBJECTIVE: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 is a recently established therapeutic target for treating metabolic syndromes, which include potential precursors to cardiovascular disease, suggesting a link between FGF21 and atherosclerosis. However, the association between serum FGF21 concentrations and coronary artery disease remain controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between circulating FGF21 concentrations and coronary artery lesions and clinical severity. METHODS: We enrolled 137 subjects who underwent coronary angiography, due to suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), from December 2009 to July 2012. Serum FGF21 levels were measured. Coronary artery lesions and clinical severities of the subjects were evaluated using the SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with (paclitaxel-eluting) TAXus stent and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scoring system, respectively. RESULTS: After adjusting for established cardiovascular disease risk factors, including age, body mass index, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, patients with coronary artery lesions (n=112 men) had significantly higher levels of FGF21 than individuals without such lesions (n=25; men) (377.1±20.1 pg/mL vs. 267.1±43.5 pg/mL; p=0.026). However, no correlations were found between serum levels of FGF21 and either the calculated STNTAX score (r=0.117; p=0.176) or GRACE risk score, which is a risk prediction tool applicable for ACS subjects (r=0.113; p=0.193). CONCLUSION: Although serum levels of FGF21 were higher in individuals with coronary lesions than in those without such lesions, FGF21 levels were not associated with angiographic severity.

Lobeglitazone, a Novel Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Agonist, Attenuates Renal Fibrosis Caused by Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction in Mice

BACKGROUND: Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a common feature of the final stage of nearly all cause types of chronic kidney disease. Although classic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists have a protective effect on diabetic nephropathy, much less is known about their direct effects in renal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate possible beneficial effects of lobeglitazone, a novel PPARγ agonist, on renal fibrosis in mice. METHODS: We examined the effects of lobeglitazone on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) induced renal fibrosis mice. We further defined the role of lobeglitazone on transforming growth factor (TGF)-signaling pathways in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis through in vivo and in vitro study. RESULTS: Through hematoxylin/eosin and sirius red staining, we observed that lobeglitazone effectively attenuates UUO-induced renal atrophy and fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis in conjunction with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that lobeglitazone treatment inhibited UUO-induced upregulation of renal Smad-3 phosphorylation, α-smooth muscle actin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and type 1 collagen. In vitro experiments with rat mesangial cells and NRK-49F renal fibroblast cells suggested that the effects of lobeglitazone on UUO-induced renal fibrosis are mediated by inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that lobeglitazone has a protective effect on UUO-induced renal fibrosis, suggesting that its clinical applications could extend to the treatment of non-diabetic origin renal disease.

Cushing Syndrome Caused by ACTH-independent Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia / 대한내과학회지

Adenocorticotropic hormone-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome. It is characterized by multinodular enlargement of the adrenal glands and hypercortisolism. Although bilateral adrenalectomy is the standard therapy, unilateral adrenalectomy is an effective alternative. Here we present a case of a 71-year-old female referred to the Endocrinology Department for further evaluation of bilateral adrenal macronodular hyperplasia. Based on dynamic hormone tests and imaging studies, she was diagnosed with AIMAH. Due to persistent hypercortisolism, she underwent completion contralateral surgery after unilateral adrenalectomy. This case demonstrates that unilateral adrenalectomy should be considered in a patient presenting with obvious symptoms of hypercotisolism and relatively asymmetric adrenal enlargement.

Association between household size, residential area, and osteoporosis: analysis of 2008 to 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of single-person households has rapidly increased in Korea. Individuals living alone and in rural areas may have a higher risk of various metabolic diseases due to differences in lifestyle. However, few studies have investigated the association of household size and residential area with health-related problems. This study aimed to evaluate the association of household size and residential area with risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 3,058 postmenopausal women from the 2008 to 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We examined the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and household size and residential area. RESULTS: Individuals living in rural areas had significantly lower BMD of the lumbar spine than those living in an urban area. Subsequently, we divided the participants into four groups according to household size and residential areas. Lumbar spine BMD was significantly lower in individuals living in rural single-person households than those in urban households with two or more individuals, even after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. In addition, individuals in rural single-person households had significantly greater odds of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine than those in urban households with two or more residents. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in rural single-person households had significantly lower BMD and greater odds of osteoporosis in lumbar spine than urban households with two or more individuals. The results of this study suggest that individuals living in rural single-person households may benefit from more careful screening for osteoporosis.

A Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Caused by Dapsone-Induced Acute Pancreatitis / 임상당뇨병

Drug-induced pancreatitis accounts for 0.1~2.0% of all pancreatitis cases. Generally, the mechanism of drug-induced pancreatitis is an immune reaction, accumulation of toxic material, and/or ischemia. However, how dapsone causes pancreatitis remains unclear. A 61-year-old man presented with a 2-week history of epigastric discomfort. He had taken dapsone for 2 months to treat psoriasis. Laboratory findings showed high blood glucose levels and metabolic acidosis; however, hemoglobin A1c was low. Serum amylase and lipase levels were elevated to 125/4,479 U/L. Abdominal computed tomography was indicative of pancreatitis. There was no causative history of pancreatitis and no other medication history except dapsone. Thus, we reached a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) followed by dapsone-induced pancreatitis. The patient fasted and was treated with insulin administration and fluid hydration in accordance with treatment guidelines. After treatment, amylase and lipase decreased and symptoms subsided, but insulin injection was required to control blood glucose levels. Drug-induced pancreatitis is a very rare adverse effect of dapsone. Only four cases of pancreatitis related to dapsone could be found in a PubMed search. Moreover, diabetes caused by dapsone-induced pancreatitis has not been reported previously. Here, we report a case of DKA caused by dapsoneinduced acute pancreatitis.

Case of Sarcoidosis-Related Hypercalcemia with Normal Serum 1,25(OH)2D / 대한내과학회지

Diagnosing hypercalcemia is often challenging because a wide spectrum of diseases-such as malignancy, granulomatous disease, and primary hyperparathyroidism-should be considered. Sarcoidosis is a rare cause of hypercalcemia. The case of a 77-year-old male presenting with sarcoidosis-associated hypercalcemia whose serum 1,25(OH)2D level was normal is reported here. Despite a normal 1,25(OH)2D level and minimally enlarged hilar lymphadenopathy, the serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level was increased. Mediastinoscopic biopsy of the right lower paratracheal lymph node revealed pathological findings compatible with sarcoidosis. Treatment with 30 mg/day oral prednisone was started. Currently, the patient is being treated with a tapered dose of oral prednisone and small doses of vitamin D and calcium. Despite its low incidence, sarcoidosis should be considered a cause of hypercalcemia. The important diagnostic factors are not only serum calcitriol levels but also serum ACE levels and pathological findings.

Association between the Growth Hormone Receptor Exon 3 Polymorphism and Metabolic Factors in Korean Patients with Acromegaly

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between the frequency of growth hormone receptor (GHR) exon 3 polymorphism (exon 3 deletion; d3-GHR) and metabolic factors in patients with acromegaly in Korea. METHODS: DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 30 unrelated patients with acromegaly. GHR genotypes were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and correlated with demographic data and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: No patient had the d3/d3 genotype, while four (13.3%) had the d3/fl genotype, and 26 (86.7%) had the fl/fl genotype. Body mass index (BMI) in patients with the d3/fl genotype was significantly higher than in those with the fl/fl genotype (P=0.001). Age, gender, blood pressure, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels showed no significant differences between the two genotypes. CONCLUSION: The d3-GHR polymorphism may be associated with high BMI but not with other demographic characteristics or laboratory parameters.

Transcriptional Regulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Expression

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an attractive target for treating metabolic disease due to its wide-ranging beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Circulating FGF21 levels are increased in insulin-resistant states; however, endogenous FGF21 fails to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in obesity, suggesting that metabolic syndrome is an FGF21-resistant state. Therefore, transcription factors for FGF21 are potential drug targets that could increase FGF21 expression in obesity and reduce FGF21 resistance. Despite many studies on the metabolic effects of FGF21, the transcriptional regulation of FGF21 gene expression remains controversial and is not fully understood. As the FGF21 transcription factor pathway is one of the most promising targets for the treatment of metabolic syndrome, further investigation of FGF21 transcriptional regulation is required.

A Case of Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis with Sjögren's Syndrome Presenting as Hypokalemic Paralysis / 계명의대학술지

Distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) caused by autoimmune nephritis occurs in up to 25% of patients with Sjögren's syndrome. However, patients with hypokalemic paralysis are sometimes overlooked, because most symptoms of autoimmune nephritis in Sjögren's syndrome are mild. We present a case of hypokalemic paralysis in a 54-year-old female who also had dry eyes and mouth, and Raynaud's phenomenon. Further evaluation, including autoantibody tests, revealed distal RTA with Sjögren's syndrome as the cause of hypokalemia. Distal RTA diagnosis was made based on normal anion gap hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, alkaline urine with positive urine anion gap, high transtubular potassium concentration gradient (TTKG), positive anti-La antibody, and symptoms of sicca complex. The patient's symptoms resolved following treatment with intravenous and oral potassium, immunosuppressants, and steroids. This case illustrates that distal RTA and Sjögren's syndrome should be considered in cases of hypokalemic paralysis.

Molecular Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapies in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Four proto-oncogenes commonly associated with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, rearranged during transfection (RET)/papillary thyroid cancer, BRAF, RAS, and PAX8/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma, may carry diagnostic and prognostic significance. These oncogenes can be used to improve the diagnosis and management of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Limited therapeutic options are available for patients with metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer, necessitating the development of novel therapies. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and RET-directed therapies such as sorafenib, motesanib, and sunitinib have been shown to be the most effective at inducing clinical responses and stabilizing the disease process. Further clinical trials of these therapeutic agents may soon change the management of thyroid cancer.

Clinical Characteristics for 348 Patients with Adrenal Incidentaloma

BACKGROUND: Adrenal incidentaloma is an adrenal neoplasm frequently encountered in clinical practice for which detection rates have recently increased. We describe here the clinical characteristics of adrenal incidentalomas. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed examining the age, sex, location, size, function, and the histological findings for 348 patients with an adrenal mass discovered incidentally on computed tomography (CT) undertaken for health examination or nonadrenal disease from August 2005 to May 2012. RESULTS: Patients consisted of 156 males (44.8%) and 192 females (55.2%), aged between 20 and 86. Adrenal masses were most commonly found in patients in their sixth decade (32.5%). Regarding the location of the masses, 62.0% were found in the left adrenal gland, 30.2% were found in the right, and 7.8% were found bilaterally. Of all of the masses analyzed, 87.1% were 1 to 4 cm in size, and an adenoma-like appearance was the most common finding (75.3%) seen on CT scans. Hormonal analysis showed that 82.2% of the masses were nonfunctioning, 6.0% were diagnosed as subclinical Cushing's syndrome, 4.6% were aldosterone-producing adenomas, and 7.2% were pheochromocytomas. Adrenalectomy was performed in a total of 69 patients having adenoma (50.7%), pheochromocytoma (24.6%), and carcinoma (4.3%). CONCLUSION: The characteristics of benign, malignant, nonfunctional, and functional adrenal masses that were incidentally found at our hospital were similar to those presented in other studies.

Case of Subacute Thyroiditis Presenting as the Cause of Fever of Unknown Origin / 대한내과학회지

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is not infrequently a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians. Common infectious causes include endocarditis and abscesses in adults, and noninfectious causes include neoplasms and certain collagen vascular diseases. Endocrine causes of FUO are rare. The only endocrine disorder likely to present as FUO is subacute thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis usually occurs in middle-aged women as viral prodrome, neck tenderness, classic symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The patient may have abrupt onset of fever and chills with complaints of thyroid pain, or only low-grade fever with poorly characterized anterior neck pain. We present a case of FUO in a 48-year-old female who had had fever and neck pain for more than one month. Despite an extensive evaluation, the patient had persistent fever and no cause was found, with the exception of subacute thyroiditis. The fever resolved from the second day of treatment with low-dose steroid (prednisolone, 10 mg per day). This case illustrates that subacute thyroiditis should be considered in cases of FUO.

A Case of Parathyroid Apoplexy of Primary Hyperparathyroidism Presenting as Auditory Hallucinations Accompanied with Hypocalcemia

The natural history of primary hyperparathyroidism, due to parathyroid adenoma, is unknown. Furthermore, spontaneous resolution of parathyroid necrosis or hemorrhage is rare and usually asymptomatic. Here, we report a case of parathyroid apoplexy of primary hyperparathyroidism, presenting as auditory hallucinations, accompanied with hypocalcemia. A 39-year-old man who was incidentally diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism, and waiting surgery for parathyroidectomy presented to psychiatric service with auditory hallucinations. He developed tetany, while taking psychiatric drugs. On a follow-up investigation, his serum calcium level fell from 11.8 to 5.8 mg/dL. His intact parathyroid hormone level also decreased from 1,017 pg/mL to 71.1 pg/mL. The parathyroid apoplexy was confirmed after a surgical removal of the infarcted adenoma. The auditory hallucinations disappeared, and serum calcium level was returned to within the normal range.

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes in Dalseong-gun, Daegu City, Korea

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the population-based prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes in a rural district of Daegu City, Korea. METHODS: Between August and November 2003, a community-based health survey of adults aged 20 years and older was performed in the rural district of Dalseong-gun in Daegu City. A total of 1,806 of all eligible individuals agreed to participate. Fasting plasma glucose was measured in all participants. Two hour oral glucose tolerance was measured in the 1,773 participants for whom there was neither an established diagnosis of DM nor evidence of DM according to fasting glucose levels. The prevalence of DM and prediabetes was determined according to the 2003 criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Subjects with prediabetes were classified into one of three categories of glucose intolerance: isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG); isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); or combined IFG and IGT. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM was 12.2%. The highest prevalence rates were observed in subjects in their seventies. A total of 34.7% of all subjects who were assigned a diagnosis of DM in the present study had not been diagnosed previously. The prevalence of prediabetes was 22.7%. The highest prevalence rates were observed in subjects in their fifties. CONCLUSION: The present study identified prevalence rates of 12.2% for DM (age-standardized prevalence rate [ASR], 6.8%), and 22.7% for prediabetes (ASR 18.5%). These results emphasize the need for community health promotion strategies to prevent or delay the onset of DM in individuals with prediabetes.