Estimating prevalence of diabetes in a Congolese town was feasible

To study prevalence, determinants, and complications at diagnosis of diabetes and intermediate hyperglycemia (IH) in Kisantu, a semirural town in Bas-Congo province, Democratic Republic of Congo.

A large-scale analytical cross-sectional population-based survey was performed in 2007 in Kisantu. After extensive sensitization, the study sample was collected using a modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise strategy, taking subsequently a random sample of streets, households within streets, and inhabitants aged 20 years and older within households. After informed consent, subjects were invited to fixed sites for interview, anthropometry, clinical examination (blood pressure, monofilament, and ophthalmology), and biochemical tests (fasting capillary glucose, serum creatinine, and albuminuria). Fasting glycemia was repeated or 2-hour postload glycemia was measured the next day in subjects with an initial glycemia of 126-199 mg/dL (7.0-11.1 mmol/L) or 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L), respectively. Hence, prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance according to both 2006 WHO/International Diabetes Federation and 2003 American Diabetes Association criteria could be evaluated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used for statistical analyses.

Response rate was 93.7% (1,898 of 2,025). Complete data were available in 1,866 (92.1%) subjects.

Estimating the prevalence of diabetes and IH in a small Congolese town was proven to be feasible.