Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes, Overweight, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome in Adults in Bogotá, Colombia, 2022-2023: A Cross‑Sectional Population Survey

Abstract

Objective: To establish the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, overweight/obesity, and metabolic syndrome in individuals aged >18 years in Bogotá, Colombia and the variables associated with diabetes prevalence. Research Design and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional population survey with a representative, probabilistic sample of Bogotá, Colombia collected between 2022 and 2023. The final sample size included 2,860 households, distributed among 19 localities of Bogotá. Clinical laboratory samples were taken from randomly selected individuals (n = 1,070). Data on the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and Latin American Diabetes Association (ALAD) criteria for metabolic syndrome were collected, including physical measurements. Results: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Bogotá was 11.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0-13.5%). According to the ATP III and ALAD criteria, the prevalence proportions of metabolic syndrome were 33.9% (95% CI, 29.5-38.6) and 29.3% (95% CI, 26.1-32.7), respectively. The age of ≥55 years, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and noneducational level had higher adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) of diabetes. The APRs of metabolic syndrome were higher in adults with a low education level (LEL) and female sex, with the ATP III and ALAD criteria, and noninsured adults or those with unknown affiliation with the healthcare system, with the ATP III criteria. Conclusions: We found a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adults in Bogotá than expected in previous studies. Intervention from public policy should be requested, especially in those of lowest socioeconomic and education levels, to avoid a future increase in this prevalence. Studies on other Colombian cities are required.

Keywords: colombia; diabetes mellitus; epidemiology; latin america; metabolic syndrome; overweight/obesity.