Diabetes in the melanesian and indian peoples of Fiji: a study of risk factors
- Resource Type
- Authors
- John R. Turtle; Toni Hannelly; Dennis K. Yue; David J. Handelsman; Penelope L Hoskins; Martin Silink
- Source
- Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 3:269-276
- Subject
- Adult
Blood Glucose
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Ethnic group
Sex Factors
Endocrinology
Risk Factors
Diabetes mellitus
Epidemiology
Ethnicity
Internal Medicine
medicine
Fiji
Humans
Melanesians
Family history
Risk factor
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Glycated Hemoglobin
business.industry
Body Weight
Age Factors
General Medicine
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Hemoglobin A
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Hyperglycemia
Relative risk
Female
business
Demography
- Language
- ISSN
- 0168-8227
Epidemiological risk factor patterns for diabetes mellitus determined by hemoglobin A1 and fasting blood glucose criteria were compared in the biethnic (Melanesian and Indian) nation of Fiji. The 2 diagnostic criteria elicited essentially similar risk factor patterns in Indians but ranking of predictors was altered in Melanesians. By either criterion age was a dominant risk factor for diabetes in both ethnic groups with age2 a predictor in Indians of elevated hemoglobin A1 (chi 2 = 7.8, P less than 0.005) and fasting blood glucose (chi 2 = 25.3, P less than 0.0001). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of diabetes was higher in Indians than in Melanesians [RR = 2.5 (1.9-3.3)]. A positive family history was associated with increased risk of diabetes in both ethnic groups by the hemoglobin A1 criterion [pooled RR = 2.3 (2.0-2.6)] but was not significant in Melanesians under the fasting blood glucose criterion. A positive family history was a strong predictor of severe hyperglycemia in both ethnic groups. The relative risk for diabetes was greater in females [1.5 (1.2-9.1)], with no ethnic difference. There was no urban-rural difference in either ethnic group. The similar risk factor patterns for diabetes diagnosed by hemoglobin A1 and severe hyperglycemia suggest that elevated hemoglobin A1 may constitute a useful screening test for 'high risk' diabetic subjects.