Poor Trends in Glycemic, Weight and Blood Pressure Control during Screening in Population among Small town of Karachi
Abstract
Khalida Soomro, Sumera Nasim, Muhammad Ali Soomro
Introduction: Diabetes is common cause of mortality in adults globally due to the increase in the risk of vascular complications. Pakistanis are an ethics group having an inherent predilection to develop diabetes. But this rise in incidence and prevalence is associated with demographics a social pattern, life style, unawareness due to low-literacy rate thus leading to obesity in the country. The high number of people in the pre-diabetic state or with undiagnosed diabetes represents large pool of individuals in rural areas than urban areas.
Aims and Objective: Knowing the prevalence of these comorbidities like Diabetes, obesity and Hypertension contributing with each other is important for determining the size of the population that may benefit from strategies that reduce blood pressure and weight while controlling blood glucose. Prevention and control need to be structured at all levels of prevention and through the Promotion of early detection of diabetes through screening and diabetes education.
Material and Methods: All persons aged 20-70 years attending the medical camps organized in small towns near to Karachi during (2017 June-2021 June) were tested for diabetes for free with help of Sindh Graduate Association and Go Red for Women Program Pakistan Cardiac Society. Data on their age, gender, height, weight, diabetes status and blood pressure were also taken. Basal mass Index was calculated and stratified as per WHO classifications. 2120 persons were screened but complete data for 1289 persons was available for analysis.
Result: Out of 1289 screened people who attended the medical camps, 377 were known diabetics with mean age was 47.5 years with 66% being above 40. 60.2% had poor glycemic control using an optimum of <7.8 mmol/L, 54.59% had poor glycemic control with blood sugars exceeding 10 mmol/L. patients with HBA1c<7%, 50% being hypertensive in spite of the treatment. 62% of women were either overweight or obese then 33.3% in men. BMI above 30 kg/m2 as measure of obesity was found in 32%. in all those who were known diabetics. 12% (92) of those not known to have diabetes had either impaired glucose tolerance or were newly diagnosed diabetics.
Conclusion: In our Study the Large proportion of diabetics were found with poor glycemic control. The majority of known diabetes patients were also at risk due to owning overweight, obesity and poorly controlled blood pressure, Emphasis should be on the promotion of early detection of diabetes through screening and diabetes education in under develop areas of Pakistan.