Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors in an adult urban population in Shanghai

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban population 25 years of age and older to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and associated risk factors. A total of 13,940 subjects was surveyed (7,042 male, 6,898 female). The prevalence (DM 2.33%, IGT 1.30) was much higher than in a 1978 study. Age-standardised prevalence was not statistically different between males and females: respectively 2.54% and 2.14% for DM and 1.42% and 1.31% for IGT. Most diabetic patients were well-educated and performed mildly intensive labour. More patients showed a family history of diabetes during youth and risk factors associated with diabetes in old age, e.g. hypertension and an overweight condition. Microalbuminuria was found in 20.26% of newly diagnosed diabetic patients, i.e. a much higher proportion than in the normal population.