A population-based study of the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in adults in northern Sudan

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 1126 - 1128
• Main Authors: ELBAGIR, M. N, ELTOM, M. A, ELMAHADI, E. M. A, KADAM, I. M. S, BERNE, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01-10-1996
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Cluster Analysis; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - genetics; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Family; Female; Geography; Glucose Intolerance - epidemiology; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Obesity - genetics; Prevalence; Probability; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Sudan - epidemiology; Tropical medicine; Urban Population; Africa; Sudan; Endocrinopathy; Human; Prevalence; Diabetes mellitus; Impaired glucose tolerance; Epidemiology; Statistical study
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.19.10.1126

A population-based study of the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in adults in northern Sudan.
M N Elbagir ,
M A Eltom ,
E M Elmahadi ,
I M Kadam and
C Berne
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of glucose intolerance in adult urban and rural populations in the northern parts of Sudan.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A sample of 1,284 subjects aged > or = 25 years was selected using a multistage cluster method
and underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The crude prevalence was 3.4% (men, 3.5%; women, 3.4%) for diabetes
and 2.9% (men, 2.2%; women, 3.3%) for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The highest crude prevalence was in the northern parts
of Sudan (5.5%) and the lowest in the western desert-like parts (0.9%). Diabetes and IGT rates were not different between
the urban and rural populations. New cases (2.2%) were almost twice as prevalent as previously known cases (1.3%). Family
history of diabetes, obesity, and advanced age were associated with higher rates of diabetes. CONCLUSION: The results showed
a high prevalence of diabetes in the adult population of Sudan, with a wide difference among the different areas. The high
ratio of newly discovered to previously known diabetic cases may reflect poor public awareness and medical services. These
findings will certainly have far-reaching implications for diabetes care delivery in this country.