Increasing rates of diabetes and cardiovascular risk in Métis Settlements in northern Alberta.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of diabetes (using secondary data analysis), as well as undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes (using primary research methods) among adult Métis Settlement dwellers in northern Alberta. We also sought to identify cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
Quantitative research study utilizing both population census and community-based diabetes screening data.


METHODS
Self-reported diabetes was analyzed from the results of the Métis Settlement specific censuses in 1998 and 2006. Mobile clinics travelled into each of the 8 Métis Settlement communities in Alberta recruiting 693 subjects for screening for undiagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analyses (adjusted for age and sex) were used to identify associated factors.


RESULTS
According to the censuses, 4,312 Métis individuals were living on Settlements in 1998 and 5,059 in 2006. Self-reported age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased significantly from 5.1% in 1998 to 6.9% in 2006 (p < 0.01), with a crude prevalence increase of 66% (p < 0.01). In 2006, diabetes prevalence was higher among females than males, 7.8% vs. 6.1% respectively (p < 0.05). Of the 266 adults screened in the fasting state, 5.3% had undiagnosed diabetes, whereas 20.3% (Canadian Diabetes Association criteria) and 51.9% (American Diabetes Association criteria) had pre-diabetes. Rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome were 49.4% (n = 693) and 46.4% (n = 266), respectively. Hemoglobin A1c > 6.1% was strongly associated with diabetes, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate high rates of diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome among adult Alberta Métis Settlement dwellers.
Ralph-Campbell
Kelli
K
Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Oster
Richard T
RT
Connor
Tracy
T
Pick
Mary
M
Pohar
Sheri
S
Thompson
Pauline
P
Daniels
Margaret
M
Deschambeau
Lorraine
L
Werner-Leonard
Andrea
A
Cardinal-Lamouche
Susan
S
Toth
Ellen L
EL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids