Glucose intolerance and cardiovascular risk factors in Hong Kong: data from two occupation-based cross-sectional surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the distribution of plasma glucose and related cardiovascular risk factors in two occupation-based cross-sectional surveys in a Chinese ethnic population.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional surveys in a Hong Kong working population. In 1990, 1496 participants aged 18-66 years underwent an OGTT, anthropometric, and other biochemical measures. Identical measures were collected from 534 participants aged 20-72 years in 2001-2003. Data were direct age-standardised to compare CVD risk factor prevalence. Linear regression modelling was used to examine the distribution of continuous CVD risk factors.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) 2-h plasma glucose values were 5.6mmol/l (2.1) in 1990 and 6.5mmol/l (2.5) in 2001-2003, an apparent increase of 0.5mmol/l (95% CI 0.3 to 0.7, p<0.001) after age and sex adjustment. However, there was no significant difference in the age-standardised prevalence of glucose intolerance, overweight or obesity. There were significantly smaller proportions of women with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia and male smokers in the second compared to the first survey.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a relatively adverse glycaemia profile, which may have worsened over time, in two healthy populations of survey respondents, with comparatively low rates of most CVD risk factors. This has implications for the future burden of disease associated with hyperglycaemia in this population.
Simmons
Rebecca K
RK
MRC Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Ko
Gary T
GT
Chan
Juliana C
JC
Cockram
Clive S
CS
Nan
Jennifer H
JH
Griffin
Simon J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D001786:Blood Glucose