Cosegregation of obesity with familial aggregation of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
We have shown that a positive family history of diabetes, and the variables of general and central obesity are independent risk factors for type 2 diabetes in our population. This study was done to evaluate whether a familial predisposition to diabetes resulted in a tendency for adverse anthropometric and haemodynamic profiles in south Indian non-diabetic subjects.


METHODS
The analysis was carried out on 2463 subjects (M: F, 1196: 1267) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The study subjects were selected from population surveys for diabetes. Details of age, sex, family history of diabetes, body mass index (b.m.i.), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were recorded. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated.


RESULTS
A positive family history of diabetes was present in 24.7% of our subjects. Mean b.m.i. and percentage of obesity were significantly higher in families with a positive family history (group 2) vs. families with no family history (group 1). Subjects in group 2 had a higher 2-h plasma glucose (p < 0.001) and higher prevalence of hypertension (chi2 = 6.91, p = 0.0086). Factor analysis with principle components analysis (PCA) showed that a family history of diabetes clustered with WHR in men, and with b.m.i. and WHR in women. The b.m.i. formed a different domain with blood pressure in both sexes. WHR and b.m.i. clustered with cholesterol and triglycerides in another domain.


CONCLUSIONS
In this population, general and central obesity are associated with a family history of diabetes. A family history of diabetes may increase the risk of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia indirectly through its connection with b.m.i.
Ramachandran
A
A
Diabetes Research Centre, Royapuram, Madras, India. ramachandran@vsnl.com
Snehalatha
C
C
Satyavani
K
K
Sivasankari
S
S
Vijay
V
V
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol