High prevalence of diabetes in Adana, a southern province of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance and their relationship with risk factors in Adana, a southern province of Turkey, where risk factors are more prominent, probably because of social and economic reasons.


METHODS
The study population included 1637 randomly selected adults aged 20-79 years. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on plasma glucose values using the 1999 diagnostic criteria recommended by the World Health Organization.


RESULTS
The crude prevalence of diabetes was 12.9% in men and 10.9% in women (P = 0.207). Total prevalence of diabetes was 11.6%. The screening process identified previously undiagnosed diabetes in 4.2% of individuals and impaired glucose homeostasis (consisting of impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose) in an additional 4.3% of subjects. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.4% among men and 36.6% among women (P < 0.0001). Total prevalence of hypertension was 32.9%, and prevalence of obesity was 43.4%. Age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, hypertension, family history of diabetes, and triglycerides were independently associated with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetes in Adana is higher than expected in both urban and rural areas. Obesity and hypertension also seem to be common metabolic disorders in this area. Age, hypertension, obesity, high triglyceride level, and family history of diabetes are independently associated with diabetes. Therefore, primary prevention through lifestyle modifications may have a critical role in the control of diabetes.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey. adnangkocel@superonline.com
Adnan
A
Gokcel
Akatli Kursat
AK
Ozsahin
Nurzen
N
Sezgin
Hatice
H
Karakose
Melek Eda
ME
Ertorer
Muhsin
M
Akbaba
Nuh
N
Baklaci
Aysegul
A
Sengul
Nilgun
N
Guvener
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data