Long-term outcomes of lifestyle intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk in primary health care.

AIMS: The Finnish National Diabetes Prevention Program (FIN-D2D) was the first large-scale diabetes prevention program in a primary health care setting in the world. The risk reduction of type 2 diabetes was 69% after one-year intervention in high-risk individuals who were able to lose 5% of their weight. We investigated long-term effects of one-year weight change on the incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. METHODS: A total of 10,149 high-risk individuals for type 2 diabetes were identified in primary health care centers and they were offered lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes. Of these individuals who participated in the baseline screening, 8353 had an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Complete follow-up data during one-year intervention were available for 2730 individuals and those were included in the follow-up analysis. The long-term outcome events were collected from national health registers after the median follow-up of 7.4 years. RESULTS: Among individuals who lost weight 2.5-4.9% and 5% or more during the first year, the hazard ratio for the incidence of drug-treated diabetes was 0.63 (95% CI 0.49-0.81, p = 0.0001), and 0.71 (95% CI 0.56-0.90, p = 0.004), respectively, compared with those with stable weight. There were no significant differences in cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality among study participants according to one-year weight changes. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk individuals for type 2 diabetes who achieved a moderate weight loss by one-year lifestyle counseling in primary health care had a long-term reduction in the incidence of drug-treated type 2 diabetes. The observed moderate weight loss was not associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events.

The Relationship between Thyroid Function and Depressive Symptoms-the FIN-D2D Population-Based Study.

The association between thyroid function and depression is controversial. Both conditions express many similar symptoms, but the studies done give conflicting results. This study draws on a random, population-based sample of 4500 subjects aged 45-75 years old from Finland. The basic clinical study was done in 2007 for 1396 men and 1500 women (64% participation rate). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (F-T4), and free triiodothyronine (F-T3) were measured in 2013 from frozen samples. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) was applied to assess depressive symptoms (score ≥10 points). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17.5% in women and 12.5% in men. In women, the mean levels of TSH, F-T4, and F-T3 without depressive symptoms vs. with the presence of depressive symptoms were 1.92/1.97 mU/L, 13.1/13.1 pmol/L, and 3.91/3.87 pmol/L (NS), respectively. In men, the levels were 1.87/1.94 mU/L, 13.5/13.7 pmol/L, and 4.18/4.12 pmol/L (NS), respectively. In multiple regression analysis, TSH had no relationship to BDI-21 total score. We found no association between depressive symptoms and thyroid values.

Changes in lifestyle modestly reduce the estimated cardiovascular disease risk in one-year follow-up of the Finnish diabetes prevention program (FIN-D2D).

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to assess whether changes in self-rated physical activity and diet during a type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention program were associated with changes in estimated 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality in people at high risk for T2D. METHODS: Individuals were identified and offered lifestyle counseling as part of the Finnish diabetes prevention program. Ten-year risk for estimated CVD events and mortality were calculated with Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) formula. FRS was available for 774 men and 1474 women and SCORE for 961 men and 1766 women. RESULTS: During the one-year follow-up, 9.6% of the men reported both an increase in physical activity and improved dietary pattern, 4.1% an increase in physical activity, 39.3% an increase in improved dietary pattern, while 47.0% reported no lifestyle changes. Corresponding numbers for women were 14.2%, 3.8%, 39.2% and 42.7%. Estimated 10-year risk for CVD events decreased 3.5% in men and 1.5% in women reporting an increase in physical activity and improvement in diet, compared to an increase of 0.15% in men (p<0.001, between groups) and decrease of 0.43% (p=0.027, between groups) in women with no lifestyle changes after adjustment for age and baseline FRS. Numbers needed to treat to prevent one CVD event by lifestyle changes were 25 for men and 59 for women. Lifestyle changes had no effect on estimated CVD mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle counseling offered in primary health care for one year results in favorable changes in lifestyle, and lowered the estimated 10-year risk for CVD events.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with lifestyle factors and metabolic and cardiovascular disease markers: population-based cross-sectional study (FIN-D2D).

OBJECTIVES: Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level has been associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases. Our aim was to determine lifestyle and clinical factors that are associated with 25OHD level and to investigate connection of 25OHD level with metabolic and cardiovascular disease markers. DESIGN: In total, 2868 Finnish men and women aged 45-74 years participated in FIN-D2D population-based health survey in 2007. Participants that had a serum sample available (98.4%; n = 2822) were included in this study. 25OHD was measured with chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay method. RESULTS: The mean 25OHD level was 58.2 nmol/l in men (n = 1348) and 57.1 nmol/l in women (n = 1474). Mean 25OHD level was lower in the younger age groups than in the older ones (p<0.0001 both in men and women). This study confirmed that low physical activity (p<0.0001 both in men and women), smoking (p = 0.0002 in men and p = 0.03 in women) and high BMI (p<0.0001 in women) are factors that independently associate with low 25OHD level. Of the metabolic and cardiovascular disease markers high triglyceride concentration (p = 0.02 in men and p = 0.001 in women) and high apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (p = 0.04 in men and p = 0.03 in women) were independently associated with low 25OHD level. CONCLUSIONS: Higher age did not predict lower 25OHD level in this study population of aged 45-74 years which may derive from a healthy life-style of "active pensioners". Low physical activity and smoking came up as independent lifestyle factors associated with low 25OHD level. Defining the molecular mechanisms behind the associations of 25OHD with low physical activity and smoking are important objective in future studies. The association of 25OHD with BMI, high triglyceride concentration and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio may be related to the role of vitamin D in inflammation, but more detailed studies are needed.

Lifestyle intervention in prevention of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus: one-year results of the FIN-D2D project.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions are effective in preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may have barriers to lifestyle changes, and the previous results of lifestyle interventions are contradictory reporting either favorable outcomes or no significant beneficial effects. Our aim was to compare cardio-metabolic risk profile and responses to a 1-year lifestyle intervention program in women with and without history of GDM. METHODS: The Implementation Project of the Program for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes (FIN-D2D) was conducted in Finland in five hospital districts. Altogether 1,661 women aged ≤45 years participated in the program. One-year follow-up was available for 393 women who did not have screen-detected T2D at baseline, and 265 of them had at least one intervention visit [115 (43.4%) women with history of GDM and 150 (56.6%) without history of GDM]. RESULTS: At baseline, women with GDM had similar baseline glucose tolerance but better anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and lipid profile than women without GDM after adjustment for age. Beneficial changes in cardiovascular risk profile existed among women with and without GDM during follow-up and the effect of lifestyle intervention was similar between the groups, except that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved only in women with GDM. Altogether, 4.0% of those with GDM and 5.0% of those without GDM developed T2D (p=0.959 adjustment for age). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of a 1-year lifestyle intervention in primary healthcare setting was similar regardless of history of GDM, both women with and without GDM benefitted from participation in the lifestyle intervention.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and metabolically healthy obesity in Europe: a collaborative analysis of ten large cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Not all obese subjects have an adverse metabolic profile predisposing them to developing type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The BioSHaRE-EU Healthy Obese Project aims to gain insights into the consequences of (healthy) obesity using data on risk factors and phenotypes across several large-scale cohort studies. Aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) in ten participating studies. METHODS: Ten different cohorts in seven countries were combined, using data transformed into a harmonized format. All participants were of European origin, with age 18-80 years. They had participated in a clinical examination for anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Blood samples had been drawn for analysis of lipids and glucose. Presence of MetS was assessed in those with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) based on the 2001 NCEP ATP III criteria, as well as an adapted set of less strict criteria. MHO was defined as obesity, having none of the MetS components, and no previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Data for 163,517 individuals were available; 17% were obese (11,465 men and 16,612 women). The prevalence of obesity varied from 11.6% in the Italian CHRIS cohort to 26.3% in the German KORA cohort. The age-standardized percentage of obese subjects with MetS ranged in women from 24% in CHRIS to 65% in the Finnish Health2000 cohort, and in men from 43% in CHRIS to 78% in the Finnish DILGOM cohort, with elevated blood pressure the most frequently occurring factor contributing to the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The age-standardized prevalence of MHO varied in women from 7% in Health2000 to 28% in NCDS, and in men from 2% in DILGOM to 19% in CHRIS. MHO was more prevalent in women than in men, and decreased with age in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Through a rigorous harmonization process, the BioSHaRE-EU consortium was able to compare key characteristics defining the metabolically healthy obese phenotype across ten cohort studies. There is considerable variability in the prevalence of healthy obesity across the different European populations studied, even when unified criteria were used to classify this phenotype.

Do depressive symptoms have an impact on the effectiveness of lifestyle counseling in prevention of type 2 diabetes? One-year follow-up of FIN-D2D.

AIM: To examine whether depressive symptoms are associated with the effectiveness of lifestyle counseling on cardio-metabolic risk profile and glucose homeostasis during one-year follow-up in individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: A total of 10,149 individuals took part in the implementation project of the national diabetes prevention program (FIN-D2D) conducted in primary health care setting in Finland. At baseline, altogether 2798 non-diabetic individuals participated in the one-year follow-up, and 2275 of them had at least one group or individual counseling visit. RESULTS: 4.0% of the individuals (n=78) had depressive symptoms, while 96.0% (n=1889) were free of depressive symptoms at baseline. Individuals who had depressive symptoms had higher body mass index and waist circumference at baseline than individuals without depressive symptoms. In terms of changes in cardio-metabolic risk profile and glucose homeostasis the effectiveness of lifestyle counseling was parallel between individuals with and without depressive symptoms during the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Effectiveness of lifestyle counseling did not differ between individuals with and without depressive symptoms. Individuals with depressive symptoms should not be excluded from lifestyle intervention programs.

Perceived sufficiency of physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes: the FIN-D2D study.

BACKGROUND: Any increase from a low level of physical activity reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, lack of awareness of one's physical activity level insufficiency may act as an obstacle to increased physical activity. PURPOSE: This study assessed the determinants of perceived physical activity levels (PALs) among adults at high risk of diabetes and the associations with self-reported physical activity. METHODS: In total, 10,149 adults participated in the FIN-D2D lifestyle intervention at baseline. Opportunistic screening was used in identifying high-risk individuals. Physical activity and perceived PAL sufficiency were assessed and compared. Key risk factors for diabetes and psychosocial and demographic characteristics were analyzed as determinants using logistic regression. RESULTS: PAL sufficiency was rated realistically by 73 % of men and 75 % of women. Perception of sufficient PAL was more likely among individuals with a smaller waist circumference, a higher level of perceived fitness, and no exercise intention. In men, a higher age, and in women, a lower education, and a lower occupational status, also increased the likelihood of perceiving PAL as sufficient. Out of all the participants, 65 % of men and 66 % of women were inactive. Among the inactive participants, 20 (men) and 16 % (women) overestimated their PAL sufficiency. In both genders, such overestimation was predicted by dyslipidemia, a lower waist circumference, a higher level of perceived fitness, and no exercise intention; also (among men) by a higher age and a family history of diabetes, and (among women) by a lower occupational status, and a lower BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetes prevention, it is important to recognize the groups that perceive their PAL as sufficient since they may not see increased PAL as a tool for decreasing their risk of diabetes.

Predictors of success of a lifestyle intervention in relation to weight loss and improvement in glucose tolerance among individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes: the FIN-D2D project.

AIM: The authors assessed the predictors of success of a lifestyle intervention (weight loss ≥ 5% and improved glucose tolerance) in individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes in a 1-year follow-up in a primary health care setting. METHODS: High-risk individuals for type 2 diabetes were identified by opportunistic screening in the implementation of the Finnish National Diabetes Prevention Program (FIN-D2D). All together, 3880 individuals participated in the 1-year follow-up. Sociodemographic characteristics, health status and behavior, family history of diabetes, clinical factors, and health care provider were considered possible predictors of lifestyle intervention success. RESULTS: In sum, 19.3% of individuals lost at least 5% of weight, and 32.6% with abnormal glucose tolerance at baseline showed improvement in glucose tolerance. Abnormal glucose tolerance was the strongest predictor of weight loss and improvement in glucose tolerance. High attendance at lifestyle intervention visits, being outside of labor force, and high body mass index at baseline were also related to weight loss, and high education was related to improvement in glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: In "real-life settings," glucose tolerance status, number of intervention visits, employment status, education, and body mass index explained the success of lifestyle intervention. These factors may help in targeting interventions, although they may not be generalized to other cultural settings.

Financial satisfaction and its relationship to depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults: results from the FIN-D2D survey.

BACKGROUND: Studies using traditional measures of socio-economic position, such as education, income and occupation, have found inequalities in depressive symptoms, but less is known about the association between financial satisfaction and depressive symptoms. AIMS: To examine the association of depressive symptoms with financial satisfaction in Finnish adults in a population-based cross-sectional FIN-D2D survey. METHODS: Four thousand, five hundred randomly selected individuals aged 45-74 years were invited to the study. Participation rate for health examinations was 64%. Complete information on depressive symptoms and financial satisfaction was available for 2,819 individuals. Financial satisfaction was asked using a questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured by Beck Depression Inventory (≥ 10) and/or use of antidepressants. RESULTS: Altogether 11.6% of individuals who were satisfied with their financial situation had depressive symptoms. Corresponding figures for individuals who were somewhat satisfied or dissatisfied were 20.6% and 42.6%, respectively. Individuals who were less satisfied with their financial situation were more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms even after adjusting for gender, age, marital status, number of chronic diseases, smoking, binge drinking, physical activity, education and household income. CONCLUSIONS: Instead of more traditional measures of socio-economic position, financial dissatisfaction seems to be associated with depressive symptoms in Finnish adults.

Do statins interfere with lifestyle intervention in the prevention of diabetes in primary healthcare? One-year follow-up of the FIN-D2D project.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the use of statins is associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and changes in glucose metabolism among individuals at high risk for T2D participating in 1-year lifestyle intervention in primary healthcare setting. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up study. SETTING: In all, 400 primary healthcare centres and occupational healthcare clinics in Finland. PARTICIPANTS: We screened altogether 10 149 individuals at increased risk for T2D; of these, 2798 non-diabetic individuals verified by a 2 h glucose tolerance test participated in the 1-year follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: Lifestyle intervention (individual and/or group-based counselling). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of T2D and fasting and 2 h glucose measured at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 484 individuals (17.3%) used statins at the baseline. Of them 31 (7.5%) developed T2D during the follow-up, compared to 126 (6.5%) of statin non-users (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.76, p=0.442). Interestingly, fasting glucose increased by 0.08 mmol/l in statin users, but remained unchanged in non-users, the difference being 0.074 mmol/l (95% CI 0.014 to 0.134) and remained significant even after adjustment for age, sex, baseline fasting glucose, the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), use of antihypertensive and/or coronary artery disease medication, weight and 1-year weight change (adjusted p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of T2D did not differ between the statin users and non-users. The finding that fasting glucose slightly increased in statin users in spite of lifestyle interventions suggests the view that the use of statins might have unfavourable effects on glucose metabolism and that statins might hamper beneficial effects of lifestyle intervention in people at high risk of T2D.

Participation, socioeconomic status and group or individual counselling intervention in individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes: one-year follow-up study of the FIN-D2D-project.

AIMS: To describe socioeconomic characteristics of participants and their effect on uptake and completion of the implementation project (FIN-D2D) for the National Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme. Furthermore, to assess the effectiveness of individual vs. group intervention during one-year follow-up. METHODS: At baseline, 2820 men and 5764 women aged <65 years participated in the non-randomized implementation project in primary health care setting; one-year follow-up was available for 1067 men and 2122 women. Socioeconomic status included education and occupation. Interventions were individual and/or group-based. The changes in cardiovascular risk factors and glucose tolerance were used as measures of the effectiveness of intervention. RESULTS: 68.4% of the men and 69.8% of the women participated in some of the intervention modalities offered. Low education and not working were related to active participation in the intervention in men. 88.2% of men and 76.1% of women selected the individual instead of group intervention. The effectiveness of individual vs. group interventions did not differ, except for minor changes in systolic blood pressure in women and glucose tolerance in men. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status modulated participation in interventions. Both types of intervention worked equally well, but participation in group intervention was low.

Perceived need to increase physical activity levels among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis within a community-based diabetes prevention project FIN-D2D.

BACKGROUND: Increased physical activity is a cornerstone of type 2 diabetes prevention. The perception of a need to change is considered essential in behaviour change processes. However, the existing literature on individuals' perceived need to change health behaviour is limited. In order to improve understanding of diabetes prevention through increased physical activity levels (PAL), we assessed factors associated with perceiving a need to increase PAL among adults at high risk of diabetes. METHODS: Opportunistic screening was used within a primary-care based lifestyle intervention covering 10 149 men and women at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Data were obtained at baseline visits. The explored determinants were demographic, anthropometric/clinical, behavioural and psychosocial characteristics, along with four categories of PAL awareness. Logistic regression was used in the analysis. RESULTS: 74% of men (n = 2 577) and 76% of women (n = 4 551) perceived a need to increase their PAL. The participants most likely to perceive this need were inactive, had a larger waist circumference, rated their PAL as insufficient, and were at the contemplation stage of change. Smoking, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, and a family history of diabetes were not associated with this perception. The likelihood was also greater among women with less perceived fitness and less education. Demographic factors other than education did not determine participants' perceived need to increase PAL. PAL overestimators were less likely to perceive the need to increase their PAL than realistic inactive participants. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective rather than objective health factors appear to determine the perception of a need to increase PAL among adults at high risk of diabetes. Client perceptions need to be evaluated in health counselling in order to facilitate a change in PAL. Practical descriptions of the associations between metabolic risk factors, PAL, and diabetes are needed in order to make the risk factors concrete for at-risk individuals.

The reporting of previous lifestyle counseling by persons at high risk of Type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess (i) whether the reporting of counseling previously received is associated with high-risk individuals' agreement to participate in lifestyle intervention, (ii) whether the reporting of previous counseling differed within such a high-risk group, and (iii) the associations between lifestyles and previous lifestyle counseling. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were drawn from 10149 adults at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, who were participating in a Finnish national diabetes prevention project (FIN-D2D). Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used. RESULTS: In relation to the reporting of previous counseling, no difference was found between persons who had agreed and persons who had not agreed to participate in the lifestyle intervention. Persons who were more educated or who had dyslipidemia or diabetes were more likely than the others to report previous counseling. A generally healthy lifestyle, or certain health behaviors (being a non-smoker or eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables) may make the reporting of previous counseling more likely. CONCLUSION: The results raise questions about the amount and quality of the previously received lifestyle counseling. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There is a need for sustainable lifestyle counseling structures, within vigorously implemented diabetes prevention projects, if long-lasting lifestyle changes are to be achieved.

Perceiving need for lifestyle counseling: findings from Finnish individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the proportion of individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes who perceive the need for lifestyle counseling, factors associated with this perception, and whether the perceived need is associated with subsequent attendance in lifestyle intervention. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Baseline and intervention data were obtained from 10,149 participants in a Finnish National Diabetes Prevention Project. RESULTS: In total, 36% of men and 52% of women perceived the need for counseling. Most of the risk factors did not increase the perceived need for counseling. Those agreeing to attend supervised lifestyle intervention were more likely to report a perceived need than those who agreed on a self-initiated lifestyle change or those who refused to attend lifestyle intervention. The perceived need was associated with actual attendance in the lifestyle intervention only among women. CONCLUSIONS: It will be vital to find additional means to support lifestyle change.

Increase in physical activity and cardiometabolic risk profile change during lifestyle intervention in primary healthcare: 1-year follow-up study among individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Objectives To investigate the association between increase in physical activity and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors during a lifestyle intervention programme in routine clinical settings. Design Prospective follow-up. Setting 400 primary healthcare centres and occupational healthcare outpatient clinics in Finland. Participants Individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes identified in the implementation project of the national diabetes prevention programme (FIN-D2D) and participating in baseline and 1-year follow-up visits. Final study group comprised the 1871 non-diabetic participants who responded at follow-up visit to a question on stability versus increase of physical activity. Interventions Lifestyle intervention. Primary outcome measures Cardiometabolic risk factors (body composition, blood pressure and those measured from fasting venous blood samples) measured at baseline and follow-up visits. Results Of the participants, 310 (16.6% of all responders) reported at follow-up having clearly increased their physical activity during the past year, while 1380 (73.8%) had been unable to increase their physical activity. Those who increased their activity decreased their weight by 3.6 kg (95% CI 2.9 to 4.3, age and sex adjusted, p<0.001) and waist circumference by 3.6 cm (95% CI 2.9 to 4.3, p<0.001) more than those who did not increase their activity. Similarly, those who increased their physical activity had greater reductions in total cholesterol (group difference in reduction 0.17 mmol/l, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.28, p=0.002), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.16 mmol/l, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.26, p=0.001), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio (0.17, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.25, p<0.001) as well as fasting glucose (0.09 mmol/l, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.15, p=0.004) and 2 h glucose levels (0.36 mmol/l, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.55, p=0.023) than those who did not increase their physical activity. Conclusion Increasing physical activity seems to be an important feature of cardiometabolic risk reduction among individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes participating in preventive interventions in routine clinical settings.

Metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity phenotypes in the general population: the FIN-D2D Survey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to examine the prevalence of different metabolical phenotypes of obesity, and to analyze, by using different risk scores, how the metabolic syndrome (MetS) definition discriminates between unhealthy and healthy metabolic phenotypes in different obesity classes. METHODS: The Finnish type 2 diabetes (FIN-D2D) survey, a part of the larger implementation study, was carried out in 2007. The present cross-sectional analysis comprises 2,849 individuals aged 45-74 years. The MetS was defined with the new Harmonization definition. Cardiovascular risk was estimated with the Framingham and SCORE risk scores. Diabetes risk was assessed with the FINDRISK score. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was estimated with the NAFLD score. Participants with and without MetS were classified in different weight categories and analysis of regression models were used to test the linear trend between body mass index (BMI) and various characteristics in individuals with and without MetS; and interaction between BMI and MetS. RESULTS: A metabolically healthy but obese phenotype was observed in 9.2% of obese men and in 16.4% of obese women. The MetS-BMI interaction was significant for fasting glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)(p < 0.001 for all). The prevalence of total diabetes (detected prior to or during survey) was 37.0% in obese individuals with MetS and 4.3% in obese individuals without MetS (p < 0.001). MetS-BMI interaction was significant (p < 0.001) also for the Framingham 10 year CVD risk score, NAFLD score and estimated liver fat %, indicating greater effect of increasing BMI in participants with MetS compared to participants without MetS. The metabolically healthy but obese individuals had lower 2-hour postload glucose levels (p = 0.0030), lower NAFLD scores (p < 0.001) and lower CVD risk scores (Framingham, p < 0.001; SCORE, p = 0.002) than normal weight individuals with MetS. CONCLUSIONS: Undetected Type 2 diabetes was more prevalent among those with MetS irrespective of the BMI class and increasing BMI had a significantly greater effect on estimates of liver fat and future CVD risk among those with MetS compared with participants without MetS. A healthy obese phenotype was associated with a better metabolic profile than observed in normal weight individuals with MetS.

Socioeconomic position and effectiveness of lifestyle intervention in prevention of type 2 diabetes: one-year follow-up of the FIN-D2D project.

AIMS: Lifestyle intervention is effective in prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in high-risk individuals. However, health behaviour and health outcomes are modified by socioeconomic position through various mechanisms. It is therefore possible that success in lifestyle intervention may be determined by factors such as level of education or occupation. In this study we assessed the impact of the level of education and occupation on the baseline anthropometric and clinical characteristics and their changes during a one-year follow-up in a cohort of Finnish men and women at high risk for T2D aged 20-64 years. METHODS: As part of a Finnish national diabetes prevention programme 2003-2007 (FIN-D2D), high-risk individuals were identified using opportunistic screening for lifestyle intervention in primary health care. 1,067 men and 2,122 women had one-year follow-up data. Education and occupation were used as factors of socioeconomic position. Measures of anthropometric and clinical characteristics included weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, FINDRISC scores and glucose tolerance status. RESULTS: The effect of intervention was similar in all socioeconomic groups, but the level of education was related to glucose tolerance status in both genders. In addition, socioeconomic differences existed in blood pressure, weight, BMI, waist circumference and HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic position did not seem to have any impact on the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention in individuals at high risk for T2D, which is encouraging from the point of view of reducing health inequalities.

Population-level effects of the national diabetes prevention programme (FIN-D2D) on the body weight, the waist circumference, and the prevalence of obesity.

BACKGROUND: The implementation project of the national diabetes prevention programme in Finland, FIN-D2D, was carried out in primary health care in the area of five hospital districts during 2003-2007. METHODS: The population strategy of FIN-D2D was primarily aimed at increasing the awareness of type 2 diabetes and preventing obesity. To investigate the effects of this strategy, we studied the changes in the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and central obesity among a random independent sample of individuals aged 45-74 years in the FIN-D2D area; and assessed whether they differed from a sample of individuals in the control area, which consisted of four geographical areas not participating in FIN-D2D (FINRISK study). Data was obtained for 5850/ 6406 (in the beginning/ in the end) individuals. The duration of the observation period varied from three to five years. RESULTS: The mean body weight decreased from 78.7 to 78.1 kg (p = 0.041) in the FIN-D2D area, and from 78.7 to 78.0 kg (p = NS) in the control area. The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m(2)) decreased in the FIN-D2D area (26.5% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.015), and in the control area (28.4% vs. 25.2%, p = 0.005). The prevalence of morbid obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m(2)) remained unchanged in the FIN-D2D area, but increased in the control area (1.2% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.007). The mean waist circumference remained unchanged in the FIN-D2D area, but increased in the control area (92.8 vs. 94.0 cm, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity may be decreasing among 45-74 year old Finns. We still need a longer time perspective and future studies to see whether this favourable trend can be sustained in Finland. The actions of this implementation project can at least partly explain the differences in the mean waist circumference and the prevalence of morbid obesity between the intervention and control areas.

Association of depressive symptoms with impaired glucose regulation, screen-detected, and previously known type 2 diabetes: findings from the Finnish D2D Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between impaired glucose regulation (IGR), screen-detected type 2 diabetes, and previously known diabetes and depressive symptoms. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Altogether, 2,712 participants from three hospital districts in Finland attended a health examination. Cutoff scores ≥10 and ≥16 in the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) were used for depressive symptoms. The participants were defined as having known diabetes if they reported diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test was used to detect normal glucose regulation (NGR), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and screen-detected diabetes. The participants were defined as having IGR if they had IFG or IGT. RESULTS: Prevalence of depressive symptoms, defined as a BDI-21 cutoff score ≥10, was 14.4% for those with NGR, 13.7% for those with IGR, 14.8% for those with screen-detected diabetes, and 26.4% for those with previously known diabetes. The corresponding prevalences for a cutoff score ≥16 were 3.4, 3.4, 4.2, and 7.5%, respectively. Compared with NGR and adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and biological factors, the odds ratios for IGR, screen-detected diabetes, and previously known diabetes were 0.91 (95% CI 0.69-1.20), 0.70 (0.45-1.08), and 1.35 (0.84-2.15), respectively, for a cutoff score ≥10. For a cutoff score ≥16, the corresponding odds ratios were 1.05 (0.62-1.76), 0.87 (0.40-1.90), and 1.56 (0.69-3.50), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with diagnosed diabetes had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than participants with NGR, IGR, and previously unknown diabetes. When potential confounding factors were included in the analysis, previously known diabetes was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms.