Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk Parameters in Evros

J Atherosclerosis Prev Treat. 2021 Sep-Dec;12(3):67-72 | doi:10.53590/japt.02.1025

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Sarantoula Ventouri1,2, Nikolaos Papanas2, Stylianos Tigas1, Christos Nalmpantis3, Efstratios Maltezos2, Agathocles Tsatsoulis1

1Department of Endocrinology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2Diabetes Centre-Diabetic Foot Clinic, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
3Primary Health Care, Regional Clinics – Health Centers of the Municipality of Traianoupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece

 

 


Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and related metabolic disorders in the Evros region.
Material-Methods: A random sample of 541 people was studied using the Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score, and measurement of weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, as well as Fasting Glucose and Postprandial Glucose with a reflectometer. The participants with a score of 15-20, score ≥20, FG ≥100 mg/dl and / or PG 140 mg/dl (n = 206) were subjected to a oral glucose tolerance test, according to WHO. Lipid profile, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk were also assessed.
Results: Prevalence of DM T2 in the study population was: 29.6%, and that of prediabetes was 10.9%. Obese (Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2) were: 52.5%, overweight (BMI 25-30kg/m2) were 33.2% and normal/low weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) were 14.1% of the population. Central obesity with a waist circumference of ≥ 102cm had 58,6% of men and ≥ 88cm 86,8% of women. Hypertension was 66.9% of the sample and 58.8% were on antihypertensive treatment. In 206 subjects, CHOL 200-239 mg/dl had 32.5% and CHOL≥ 240 mg/ dl 13.6%. 10.2% of women had HDL – CHOL <45 and <35:3,4 % of men. 5,9 % of subjects had LDL – CHOL≥ 160 mg/dl. 18% of subjects had TG: 200 – 499 mg/dl and TG ≥ 500 mg/dl:1.5%. High index Apo-B / Apo-A1 had 19.4% and Lp (a) 33% of individuals. 92.2% of these people had metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions: The upward trend of DM T2 and cardiometabolic risk parameters raises the need for targeted prevention and treatment policies.

Key words: Prevalence, DM Type 2, metabolic disorders, cardiometabolic risk

Corresponding author: Sarantoula Ventouri, RN, MSc, MEd, PhDc, 2 Thrakis Street, Alexandroupolis, Greece. Tel. + Fax: +30 2551029723, Tel.: +30 6937 199641, E-mail: tventouri@gmail.com

Submission: 25.08.2021, Acceptance: 31.10.2021


INTRODUCTION

The increase in the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (DM T2) and related metabolic disorders is a major public health problem. Although epidemiological studies in Greece differ with regard to methodology self- reporting of known DM T2 or data recording from medical notes vs blood glucose measurements and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), there is an increase in the prevalence of DM T2 in the Greek population as well as globally, with a parallel increase in the prevalence of obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), due to the current lifestyle 1-4.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of DM T2 and cardiometabolic risk parameters in the rural population of Evros, using combined methodology. The reason for choosing the area of Evros was because there were available data from previous studies in the region5.

MATERIAL – METHODS

Population study: A random sample of 541 people, 239 men and 302 women, aged ≥18 years, mean age 64,1 ± 8,0 years) from the villages (Loutra, Antheia, Areistino, Doriko and Nipsa) of the Evros area was studied, in the year 2015-2016.

Methodology: The participants completed a questionnaire (Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score, FINDRISK) with questions related to the diagnosis of DM T2 and disease expression factors giving the participants points and overall score6.Weight, height, waist-hip circumference, blood pressure, Fasting Glucose (FG) and Postprandial Glucose (PG) with reflectometer were recorded. The self-report of the disease with DM T2 was considered known DM T2. These individuals were not subjected to laboratory examination.The individuals, according to the total score, were classified into 5 DM T2 risk levels (Low: score <7, Fairly low: score 7 – 11, Medium: score 12 – 14, High: score 15-20, Very high level: score ≥20).

Study criteria: The individuals with a score of 15-20 and score ≥20 and in individuals with FG ≥ 100 – 125 mg/dl and / or PG > 140 mg/dl underwent further investigation with an OGTT after overnight fasting between 8.0 -9.0 a.m. according to WHO criteria7, for the diagnosis of unknown DM T2 and Prediabetes (Impaired Glucose Tolerance – IGT and Impaired Fasting Glucose – IFG).

Of the total sample, 139 people (25.7%) stated that they had DM Τ2. Of the remaining 402, 214 met the study criteria, of which 206 people (90 men and 116 women) came for laboratory testing (OGTT). Also, in these individuals a test was performed for the lipid profile (Cholesterol – CHOL, HDL-CHOL, LDL – CHOL and Triglycerides, TG), measurement of apolipoproteins Apo-B and Apo-A1 and Lp (a).The prevalence of MetS and cardiovascular risk were also calculated based on the atherosclerotic index Apo-B / Apo – A1 and Lp (a)8-9. The laboratory test was performed using their social security number at the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis.

Bioethics: The study protocol was approved by the University of Ioannina as part of the thesis of S. Ventouri, under the supervision of Prof. A. Tsatsoulis, and all the participants in the study gave their written consent.

Statistical analysis: The analysis of the data was performed with Superior Performance Software System (SPSS) version 21, using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Demographic Data: The demographic data of the population study, as well as of the   selective sample of the study are shown in Table 1 and  Table 2.

Prevalence of DM: The prevalence of DM T2 in the study population (n = 541) was 29.6% (known DM T2: 25.7% + unknown DM T2: 3.9%) and that of Prediabetes was 10.9 % (Table 1).The prevalence of DM T2 was 13.3% in men and 16.3% among women.

Cardiometabolic risk parameters: The analysis of the cardio-metabolic risk parameters (Table 1) showed;

a) Obesity:5% of people were obese with Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, 33.2% were overweight with BMI 25-30 kg/m2, while normal/underweight with BMI <25kg/m2 were 14.1%.

b) Central Obesity: 86.8% of women and 58.6% of men had central obesity with waist circumference values ≥ 88 cm and 102 cm respectively. For WHR (Waist / Hip Ratio) values ≥ 1.0: 50.6% of men and for WHR ≥0.90: 72.8% of women had a central distribution of fat tissue.

c) Hypertension:9% of the sample had hypertension with 58.8% on antihypertensive treatment.

d) Lipid profile: In the selected sample of 206 individuals, with CHOL values 200 – 239 mg/dl were 32.5% of individuals and 13.6% with CHOL values ≥ 240 mg/dl. 42.7% of men with HDL – CHOL values <35 and 10.2% of women with HDL – CHOL values <45. At LDL-CHOL levels 130-159 mg/dl were 23.7% of women and 1.5% at LDL-CHOL levels ≥190mg/dl. A total of 19.5% of individuals were found to have hypertriglyceridemia (18% with TG values: 200 – 499 mg/dl and 1.5% with severe hypertriglyceridemia: TG ≥ 500 mg / dl) (Table 2).

e) Metabolic Syndrome: The highest prevalence of MetS (92.2%) was found using the criteria of A. A.C.E 2002, and there was100% correlation between the diagnosis of MetS and the diagnosis of unknown DM T2 and 90.3% with a diagnosis of IGT Table 3Table 4, and

z) Cardiovascular risk:43% were found to be at a high risk level, based on the atherosclerotic index Apo-B / Apo -A1: 19.43% and based on the values of Lp (a):33 % (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

The present study is the most recent attempt to record the prevalence of DM T2 and the cardiometabolic risk parameters in the Greek population. The results confirm the raising trend in the prevalence of DM T2 as well as of obesity and the related metabolic disturbances that characterize the MetS and, also, are in agreement with the predictions of IDF for the rapid increase in the incidence of DM T2 worldwide1-4.

The studies for the prevalence of DM T2 in Greece, belong to two different categories: a) self – reporting, in which an individual answers the question whether he/she is suffering from DM ,or medical record reviewing, and b) blood glucose measurement and the performance of OGTT. It is obvious that the studies of the second category are more sensitive, revealing cases of undiagnosed DM and Prediabetes, and the estimated prevalence is expected to be higher 1.

The so far studies show the increasing trend in the prevalence of DM in the Greek population. Thus, in the region of Attica, the prevalence increased from 2.4% in the year 1974 to 9.5% (studies of self reporting) or to 11.6% (massuments of blood glucose and OGTT) in the year 200610-11. Regarding the rural population, where prevalence was low (1.5%) during 1988-1993 there was a dramatic increase to 11.7% during 2003-2005, so it became similar to urban population12-13. This change is similar to the rising trend worldwide, and the cause of this increase is the change in the lifestyle, with a consequent decrease in physical activity, junk food and obesity3.

The present study followed combined methodology: self – reporting of DM in the study population and measurement of blood glucose and OGTT in the selected sample of people after the use of the FINDRISK questionnaire6.The FINDRISK has been evaluated and used as a tool for the detection of people with an increased risk of developing DM and MetS14.

The data of the present study revealed that during the years 2015-2016, the prevalence of DM T2 in the rural population in the region of Evros has increased considerably at the level of 29.6%. A similar increase has been noted in all the cardio metabolic risk parameters, as in obesity and especially in central obesity, in hypertension and in dyslipidemia.

In  compassion with the data  provided by papazoglou et al 5 in the year 1993, when  the prevalence of  DM T2 in the  prefecture of Evros was 1.6 % (study of reviewing data from medical notes and records of local pharmacies) a rapid increase  in the  incidence of DM has been observed within two decades, Although the two studies differ regarding the methodology, it is obvious that the increase should be attributed to  the changes in the socio economic conditions over the last decades in Greece with the consequent  dramatic changes in  the lifestyle of the inhabitants of rural Greek villages. Another parameter that should be considered is the changes in the population synthesis in the Greek rural areas with the greater proportion belonging to the aging population.

A limitation of the present study, that should be considered, is the relatively small number of the initial population study, and consequently the small number of the selective sample of people in response to FINDRISK questionnaire, who underwent the laboratory   investigation for the detection of undiagnosed DM and Prediabetes, as well as for the measurement of the lipid profile and detection of the prevalence of the MetS.

Obviously the selective sample is, by definition, sample with increased risk for developing metabolic disorders. This also explains the rather high prevalence of the MetS in the present study.

In conclusion, the present study represents the most recent attempt for the detection of the prevalence of DM T2 in the rural population of Evros, and   shows the   rapid increase of the disease and the related cardiometabolic risk parameters to epidemic laves. As a consequence, measures should be taken to prevent this epidemic that should be aiming in changing the lifestyle of the Greek population.

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