Increased prevalence of diabetes in Argentina is due to easier health care access rather than to an actual increase in prevalence.
BACKGROUND
According to the Argentine National Risk Factor Survey (ANRFS), between 2005 and 2009, self-reported Diabetes increased in Argentina from 8.4% to 9.6%, accompanied by a raise in the prevalence of obesity and low physical activity. In the same period, it also increased blood sugar checks from 69.3% to 75.7%. Since surveillance data in Argentina rely on self-reports, the estimated prevalence of diabetes may be affected by an increase in the proportion of subjects with access to preventive services. We evaluated the independent effect of a recent blood sugar check, on the increase in self-reported diagnoses of diabetes between 2005 and 2009.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of data from the 2005 and 2009 ANRFS was performed. Diabetes was defined as having been diagnosed Diabetes or high blood sugar by a health professional, obesity was calculated as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2), based on self-reported height and weight and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. We used logistic regression models to explore the relationship between prevalence of self-reported diabetes and recent blood sugar check as the main predictor.


RESULTS
The prevalence of diabetes rose from 8.4% to 9.6%; obesity from 14.5% to 18% and low physical activity from 46.2% to 55%, between 2005 and 2009. Among those who recently checked their blood sugar no differences were found in the prevalence of diabetes: 13% in 2005 vs. 13.2% in 2009. Findings of the multivariable analysis showed that obesity and low physical activity were significantly associated with self reported diabetes in the adjusted model (OR = 1.80 for obesity, and OR = 1.12 for low physical activity but the strongest predictor was recent blood sugar check (OR = 4.75).


CONCLUSIONS
An increased prevalence of self-reported diabetes between 2005 and 2009 might indicate an improvement in the access to preventive services rather than a positive increase in the prevalence of diabetes.
Center of Excellence, South American Center for Cardiovascular Health (SACECH), Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Adolfo
A
Rubinstein
Center of Excellence, South American Center for Cardiovascular Health (SACECH), Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Laura
L
Gutierrez
Center of Excellence, South American Center for Cardiovascular Health (SACECH), Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Andrea
A
Beratarrechea
Center of Excellence, South American Center for Cardiovascular Health (SACECH), Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vilma E
VE
Irazola
D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors