Evaluation of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation-Indian Diabetes Risk Score in detecting undiagnosed diabetes in the Indian population: Results from the Indian Council of Medical Research-INdia DIABetes population-based study (INDIAB-15)

Background & objectives: Screening of individuals for early detection and identification of undiagnosed diabetes can help in reducing the burden of diabetic complications. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF)-Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) to screen for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in a large representative population in India. Methods: Data were acquired from the Indian Council of Medical Research–INdia DIABetes (ICMR–INDIAB) study, a large national survey that included both urban and rural populations from 30 states/union territories in India. Stratified multistage design was followed to obtain a sample of 113,043 individuals (94.2% response rate). MDRF-IDRS used four simple parameters, viz. age, waist circumference, family history of diabetes and physical activity to detect undiagnosed diabetes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) with area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the performance of MDRF-IDRS. Results: We identified that 32.4, 52.7 and 14.9 per cent of the general population were under high-, moderate- and low-risk category of diabetes. Among the newly diagnosed individuals with diabetes [diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)], 60.2, 35.9 and 3.9 per cent were identified under

Effects of Metabolic Surgery on Diabetic Kidney Disease and Diabetic Retinopathy Among Obese Asian Indians with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: To evaluate the effect of metabolic surgery on microvascular changes associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in obese Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), one year after metabolic surgery. Methods: This is a follow up study in 21 obese Asian Indians with T2DM who underwent metabolic surgery (MS). Diabetic microvascular complications were assessed before and one-year post surgery using urinary albumin, protein creatinine ratio, eGFR, retinal colour photography and Optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Microalbuminuria (54±26 vs 28±16 vs 21±6 ?g/mg, p<0.001) and protein creatinine ratio (0.4±0.1 vs 0.2±0.03 vs 0.1±0.02, p<0.05) reduced significantly 6 months and one year after Metabolic surgery (MS) respectively compared to baseline values. Estimated Glomerular Filtration (eGFR) rate and creatinine was stable and there was no decline in renal function one year after MS. DR was present in eight individuals at baseline. After metabolic surgery, 12 % of individuals achieved regression of DR and 12% individuals showed a one step regression from severe to moderate non proliferative DR while 12 % individuals progressed from moderate to severe non proliferative DR. Of the 14 (53.8%) individuals who had micro or macroalbuminuria at baseline, 43% individuals reverted back to normoalbuminuria. There was also a reduction in the usage of anti- hypertensive medications after MS. Conclusion: In obese Asian Indians with T2DM, metabolic surgery reduced urinary microalbuminuria and protein creatinine ratios at one-year post MS. MS resulted in stable D. Retionpathy status one-year post surgery. MS may help to improve in stabilisation of the microvascular complications in obese patients with T2DM.

Slowing the diabetes epidemic in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region: the role of diet and physical activity.

The nutrition transition occurring in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region, as a result of rapid urbanization and economic development, has perhaps made this region one of the epicentres of the diabetes epidemic. This review attempts to evaluate the role of diet and physical inactivity in the South-East Asia Region in promoting this epidemic and points to strategies to slow it down by lifestyle modification. The emerging new food-production technologies and supermarkets have made energy-dense foods more easily available. This includes refined carbohydrate foods like those with added sugars, and refined grains and unhealthy fats. In addition, increased availability of modern technology and motorized transport has led to decreased physical activity. South Asian diets tend to be based on high-carbohydrate foods, with a predominance of refined grains. All of these accentuate the risk of diabetes in people of this region, who already have a unique “south Asian phenotype”. However, there is increasing evidence that altering diet by replacing refined cereals like white rice with whole grains (e.g. brown rice) and increasing physical activity can help to prevent diabetes in highrisk individuals. An urgent, concerted effort is now needed to improve diet quality and encourage physical activity, by introducing changes in policies related to food and built environments, and improving health systems to tackle noncommunicable diseases like diabetes.

Epidemiology of childhood overweight & obesity in India: A systematic review.

Background & objectives: Childhood obesity is a known precursor to obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. However, the magnitude of the problem among children and adolescents in India is unclear due to paucity of well-conducted nationwide studies and lack of uniformity in the cut-points used to define childhood overweight and obesity. Hence an attempt was made to review the data on trends in childhood overweight and obesity reported from India during 1981 to 2013. Methods: Literature search was done in various scientific public domains from the last three decades using key words such as childhood and adolescent obesity, overweight, prevalence, trends, etc. Additional studies were also identified through cross-references and websites of official agencies. Results: Prevalence data from 52 studies conducted in 16 of the 28 States in India were included in analysis. The median value for the combined prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity showed that it was higher in north, compared to south India. The pooled data after 2010 estimated a combined prevalence of 19.3 per cent of childhood overweight and obesity which was a significant increase from the earlier prevalence of 16.3 per cent reported in 2001-2005. Interpretation & conclusions: Our review shows that overweight and obesity rates in children and adolescents are increasing not just among the higher socio-economic groups but also in the lower income groups where underweight still remains a major concern.

Prevalence of generalized & abdominal obesity in urban & rural India- the ICMR-INDIAB study (Phase-I) [ICMR-INDIAB-3].

Background & objectives: Overweight and obesity are rapidly increasing in countries like India. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of generalized, abdominal and combined obesity in urban and rural India. Methods: Phase I of the ICMR-INDIAB study was conducted in a representative population of three states [Tamil Nadu (TN), Maharashtra (MH) and Jharkhand (JH)] and one Union Territory (UT)[Chandigarh (CH)] of India. A stratified multi-stage sampling design was adopted and individuals ≥20 yr of age were included. WHO Asia Pacific guidelines were used to define overweight [body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m2 but <25 kg/m2], generalized obesity (GO, BMI≥25kg/m2), abdominal obesity (AO, waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥80cm for women) and combined obesity (CO, GO plus AO). Of the 14,277 participants, 13,800 subjects (response rate, 96.7%) were included for the analysis (urban: n=4,063; rural: n=9737). Results: The prevalence of GO was 24.6, 16.6, 11.8 and 31.3 per cent among residents of TN, MH, JH and CH, while the prevalence of AO was 26.6, 18.7, 16.9 and 36.1 per cent, respectively. CO was present in 19.3, 13.0, 9.8 and 26.6 per cent of the TN, MH, JH and CH population. The prevalence of GO, AO and CO were significantly higher among urban residents compared to rural residents in all the four regions studied. The prevalence of overweight was 15.2, 11.3, 7.8 and 15.9 per cent among residents of TN, MH, JH and CH, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender, hypertension, diabetes, higher socio-economic status, physical inactivity and urban residence were significantly associated with GO, AO and CO in all the four regions studied. Age was significantly associated with AO and CO, but not with GO. Interpretation & conclusions: Prevalence of AO as well as of GO were high in India. Extrapolated to the whole country, 135, 153 and 107 million individuals will have GO, AO and CO, respectively. However, these figures have been estimated from three States and one UT of India and the results may be viewed in this light.

Visual outcomes of pan-retinal photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy at one-year follow-up and associated risk factors.

PURPOSE: To assess the visual outcomes at one-year follow-up after pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study, using data from medical records of 5000 Type 2 diabetic patients who underwent a retinal examination between 1995 and 1999 at a diabetic centre. Ocular, clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and at one-year follow-up after PRP. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was documented by colour photography and PRP was performed according to the ETDRS criteria. RESULTS: PRP was done in 413 eyes, of which 261 eyes of 160 subjects were eligible for the study. One hundred and forty eyes (73%) of 191 eyes with good visual acuity (6/9) at baseline maintained the same vision at one-year follow-up. Of the 53 eyes with visual acuity of 6/12-6/36 at baseline, 58.5% (31 eyes) maintained same vision and 18.9% (10 eyes) improved their vision at one-year follow-up. Of the 17 eyes with visual acuity < or =6/60 at baseline, 12 maintained the same vision and the remaining 5 improved their vision. The causes of visual loss included vitreous haemorrhage in 20 subjects (31.7%), progression of cataract in 19 (30%), chronic macular oedema in 15 (23.8%), pre-retinal haemorrhage in the macula in 6 (9.5%) and pre-retinal fibrosis in the macula in 3 (4.7%) subjects. On multiple logistic regression analysis, diastolic blood pressure (P =0.03), duration of diabetes (P =0.006), fasting blood glucose (P =0.02) and nephropathy (P =0.01) were associated with decreased vision after PRP. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (P < 0.001), serum creatinine (P =0.03), HDL cholesterol (P =0.05), diabetic neuropathy (P < 0.001), hypertension (P =0.01) and diabetic nephropathy (P < 0.001) showed a significant association with PDR. CONCLUSION: Visual acuity at baseline, the duration of diabetes and proteinuria played a significant role in determining the post-PRP visual acuity.

Socioeconomic status and dyslipidaemia in a South Indian population: the Chennai Urban Population Study (CUPS 11).

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic differences have been shown to be linked with the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors such as dyslipidaemia based on urban-rural comparisons. However, very little data are available on the prevalence of dyslipidaemia within an urban environment. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of dyslipidaemia in two different socioeconomic groups within an urban South Indian population. METHODS: The Chennai Urban Population Study is an epidemiological study involving two residential areas in Chennai, South India representing different socioeconomic strata. Of the 1399 eligible subjects (age > or = 20 years), 1262 (90.2%) participated in the study (Tirumangalam: middle income group, 479 subjects, response rate 91.4%; and T. Nagar: low income group, 783 subjects, response rate 89.4%). A detailed questionnaire on the socioeconomic and clinical background of the subjects was collected. Biochemical investigations included lipid profile and oral glucose tolerance tests. The classification of lipid abnormalities was done according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel III [NCEP (ATP III)] guidelines. RESULTS: The Tirumangalam group (mean monthly income of Rs 8075) represents the middle income group, while the T. Nagar group (mean monthly income of Rs 1399) represents the low income group. The prevalence rates of lipid abnormalities were higher among the middle income group compared to the low income group. The prevalence of high risk cholesterol levels in men was 10.6% (middle income group) v. 2.7% (low income group; p<0.001) and among women 19.1 v. 4.7% (p<0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of high risk triglyceride levels in men was 15.7% v. 9.3% (p=0.02) and among women 10.3% v. 7.5% (p<0.05); high risk low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels among men was 7.8% v. 3.0% (p=0.01), and among women 11.2% v. 4.5% (p<0.001). High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were lower in the low income group but the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was higher among men in the middle income group (p<0.001) but not among women. Logistic regression analysis revealed that socioeconomic status had a strong association with hypercholesterolaemia and high LDL levels, even after adjusting for age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors influence the pattern of dyslipidaemia in this urban South Indian population, with dyslipidaemia being more common and severe in the middle income group.

Epidemiology of diabetes in India--current perspective and future projections.

Diabetes is the singlemost important metabolic disease which can affect nearly every organ system in the body. It has been projected that 300 million individuals would be affected with diabetes by the year 2025. In India it is estimated that presently 19.4 million individuals are affected by this deadly disease, which is likely to go up to 57.2 million by the year 2025. The reasons for this escalation are due to changes in lifestyle, people living longer than before (ageing) and low birth weight could lead to diabetes during adulthood. Diabetes related complications are coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, etc. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to develop blindness, 17 times more likely to develop kidney disease, 30-40 times more likely to undergo amputation, two to four times more likely to develop myocardial infarction and twice as likely to suffer a stroke than non-diabetics. Lifestyle modifications, inclusive of dietary modification, regular physical activity and weight reduction are indicated for prevention of diabetes.