title: High prevalence of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome in a South African coloured population: baseline data of a study in Bellville, Cape Town.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The coloured population has the second-highest prevalence of diabetes in South Africa. However, the data were based on a study conducted almost 20 years ago in a peri-urban coloured population of the Western Cape. We aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome in an urban coloured population in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, 642 participants aged ≥31 years were drawn from an urban community of Bellville South, Cape Town, from mid-January 2008 to March 2009. Type 2 diabetes was assessed according to the WHO criteria, and metabolic syndrome was based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), ATP III and 2009 Joint Interim Statement (JIS) definition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The crude prevalence of 28.2% (age-adjusted 26.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 22.0 - 30.3) for type 2 diabetes was: 4.4% (age-adjusted 3.2%, 95% CI 1.6 - 4.9) for impaired fasting glycaemia, and 15.3% (age-adjusted 15.0%, 95% CI 11.4 - 18.6) for impaired glucose tolerance. Undiagnosed type 2 diabetes was present in 18.1% (age-adjusted 16.8%, 95% CI 13.3 - 20.4). The crude prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher with the JIS definition (62.0%) than the IDF (60.6%), and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) ATP III (55.4%). There was good overall agreement between the MetS criteria, k=0.89 (95% CI 0.85 - 0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of diabetes has increased hugely in the coloured community, and the high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes portends that cardiovascular diseases might grow to epidemic proportions in the near future in South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa. rte@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Rajiv Timothy
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Erasmus
authors.forename: David Jonah
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Soita
authors.forename: Mogamat Shafick
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanco-Blanco
authors.forename: Zelda
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vergotine
authors.forename: Andre P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kegne
authors.forename: Tandi Edith
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Matsha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055105:Waist Circumference