Fasting blood glucose, blood pressure and obesity in nurses from Pakistani Hospitals

ABSTRACT

Type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] is more common in Asians than White Caucasians. The relationship between type 2 DM, hypertension and obesity has not been well studied in urban Pakistanis. We report prevalence of these conditions and factors associated with them in urban Pakistani nurses. Cross sectional study. 337 nurses aged 20-60 years from three hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan had their fasting capillary blood glucose, blood pressure and indices of obesity documented. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for blood pressure and fasting blood glucose. Factors associated with hyperglycaemia and hypertension were studied with Student's t-test and forward step regression. P fasting blood glucose greater than 120 mg/ dl [6.7mmol/L]. Of the six known diabetics, all but two had a fasting blood glucose greater than 200 mg/dl [11.2 mmol/ L]. None of them were on insulin treatment. Twenty one participants [6.2%] were either known to be hypertensive or were found to have a blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm Hg. The body mass index [bmi] of 88 [26%] nurses was more than 27.5 kg/m[2]. More than half of them had a bmi in excess of 25 kg/m[2]. Only 7% engaged in regular physical activity. Factors associated with hyperglycaemia were older age, higher systolic blood pressure and greater waist/hip ratio. For obese individuals factors were older age shorter height and higher blood pressure. On forward step regression [age excluded] independent predictor for hyperglycaemia was waist circumference and for hypertension it was the hip circumference. Hyperglycaemia, physical inactivity, obesity [especially abdominal] and hypertension were common in this group. Known diabetics were poorly controlled. Indices of abdominal obesity were independent predictors of both hyperglycaemia and hypertension