Excess maternal transmission and familial aggregation of Type 2 diabetes in Sri Lanka.
BACKGROUND
An excess of maternal transmission of Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been reported in Europid populations, but not in South India.


METHODS
A questionnaire-based survey was carried out in 1000 (502 male) people with Type 2 diabetes to establish whether there is an excess of maternal transmission and familial aggregation in a Sri Lankan population.


RESULTS
Mean age of onset was 47+/-12 (+/-S.D.) years and duration of diabetes was 9+/-7 years. Thirty-seven percent reported parents with diabetes, 46.9% had no parents with diabetes, 16.1% did not know the diabetes status of at least one parent and there was no diabetes in the other. Of the probands, 59.4% had at least one affected relative. When both parents' diabetes status was known and only one was affected, diabetes was more common among mothers (n = 156) than fathers (n = 125) of probands (P < 0.001). A further 54 probands had both parents with diabetes. Mean age of onset and duration of the disease among probands with parental diabetes was 43.1+/-(11.1) and 9.6+/-(6.8). In the previous generation, 21.2% of maternal grandmothers and 17.3% of maternal grandfathers in the maternal diabetes group and 4.8% of maternal grandmothers and 17% of maternal grandfathers in the paternal diabetes group had diabetes. Diabetes in siblings and children was more common in those with mothers who had diabetes (53.8% and 4.5%) when compared with those in whom fathers had diabetes (42.4% and 1.6%) (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Familial aggregation and excess maternal transmission were observed in people with Type 2 diabetes in Sri Lanka.
De Silva
S N T
SN
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Weerasuriya
N
N
De Alwis
N M W
NM
De Silva
M W A
MW
Fernando
D J S
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires