Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes in a rural area of Giza-Egypt; a community based study

ABSTRACT

Diabetes has a priority position on the Egyptian health policy agenda, since it became an emerging public health problem. this study responded to the need for [early detection] of diabetes, among rural individuals >/= 20 years. an epidemiological cross - sectional, community-based survey was conducted in nazlet el ashtar village, giza, upper egypt. a simple random sample of 1,000 male and female individuals >/= 20 years was taken. all participants were subjected to interview questionnaire [to assess sociodemographic characteristics, and diabetes risk factors], anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, screening test to detect a random capillary blood glucose level and diagnostic tests; the fasting and 2 hours post prandial venous blood sample. history of diagnosed type 2 diabetes was stated by 4.3% of the individuals. findings of the screening test revealed prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes at 7.7% and 4.9% respectively. the diagnostic test conducted to positive cases for diabetes provided a prevalence rate for diabetes at 6.3%. the peak prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes was found to occur in the age interval 40-49 and the prevalence of pre-diabetes was significantly higher among males than females [p < 0.05]. stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that positive history of hypertension, positive family history of diabetes and waist circumference >/= 88 in females and >/= 102 in males as risk factors for prediabetes and diabetes. the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in the rural area in greater cairo among >/= 20 years of age population. consider introduction of blood glucose testing, starting before the age of 40 years, for early detection of diabetes at the PHC level especially in the family medicine practice