The prevalence of NIDDM and associated coronary risk factors in Mexico City

To determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated coronary risk factors in the Mexico City population.

A sample of 805 adults was selected from Mexico City. The participants, 20-90 years of age and living in the city, were selected by the method of multistage cluster sampling with proportional allocation. Diabetes was diagnosed by previous history or if fasting blood glucose was > or = 7.8 mmol/l ( > or = 7.8 mmol/l ( > or = 140 mg/dl).

The crude rate prevalence of NIDDM was 8.7%, with an age-adjusted rate of 10.6% for women and 6.0% for men. Age strongly influenced diabetes prevalence, with a chi 2 of risk tendency of 39.1 (P < 0.00005). A significant proportion (5.9%) of younger individuals (35-44 years of age) was affected by the disease. Diabetes was associated with advanced age, had a greater impact in the low-income group, and showed increased odds ratio for hypertension, dyslipidemias, and myocardial infarction in men and women and for obesity only in women.

There is a high prevalence of NIDDM in Mexico City that also strikes a significant group of younger individuals. Associated coronary risk factors are also common and more prevalent in diabetic individuals. Current epidemiological data in Mexico and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. suggest that we may be on the ascending limb for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is a critical need for resources to be allocated to programs for primary and secondary prevention, which must be well structured and organized so that proper standards of care are followed to prevent progression of the disease.