title: The prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 40 years and over in Fiji.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of diabetes among adults aged ≥40 years in Fiji, and determine the demographic characteristics associated with this diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a population-based survey, participant glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined and physician diagnosis of diabetes self-reported. HbA1c ≥6.5% or claimed previous diagnosis, independent of HbA1c, defined presence of diabetes. Results were extrapolated to the whole population. Predictors of risk for diabetes were investigated using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of those enumerated, 1381 participated (73.0%). For 1353 with either a history of diabetes or valid HbA1c, prevalence of diabetes was 44.8% (95%CI 42.2-47.5). Adjusting for age and domicile, Indians had significantly higher risk of diabetes than Melanesians among males (OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.37-2.97, p<0.001) and females (OR 1.99, 95%CI 1.44-2.73, p<0.001). Females were at greater risk than males among Melanesians (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.30-2.36, p<0.001) and Indians (OR 1.94, 95%CI 1.33-2.84, p<0.001). Risk increased with age for both genders and ethnicities, adjusting for ethnicity and domicile, then gender and domicile. The ethnicity-gender-age-domicile adjusted prevalence of diabetes among adults aged ≥40 years in Fiji was 41.0% (95%CI 38.4-43.6): 99,000 people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As identified in 1970, diabetes continues to be a substantial population health problem in Fiji.
authors.affiliation: The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand, Private Bag 99909, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand. grbrian@tpg.com.au
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brian
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramke
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szetu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000453:epidemiology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human