A national survey of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) conducted in 2000 AD in six major cities of India showed a high prevalence of diabetes (12.1%) and IGT (14%). Prevalence of IGT was higher than that of diabetes in subjects with less than 40 years when compared with older subjects. This analysis was done to look for differences in the risk factors associated with IGT in the younger and older subjects.
Prevalence of IGT was higher than diabetes in the younger group (13.1% Vs 5%, P < 0.001). Prevalence of obesity was higher in the older IGT subjects (38% Vs 30.5%, p < 0.003). Presence of positive familyhistory of diabetes was similar in both the groups. In the > or = 40 year group age, BMI and familyhistory of diabetes were common risk factors for diabetes and IGT. In the younger group, only BMI showed an association with IGT. The association of familyhistory of diabetes with IGT was weaker than for diabetes even in the older subjects (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.5 for diabetes, 1.33 for IGT).