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Diabetes prevalence, related complications in Mexican-Americans doubled since 1993-1994

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The prevalence of diabetes among older Mexican-Americans significantly increased from 20.3% during 1993 and 1994 to 37.2% during 2004 and 2005, and no improvements in diabetes-related complications were identified during this time.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, assessed trends in diabetes prevalence and its related complications in the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE) cohort of Mexican-Americans aged 75 years or older. They gathered data from participants in 1993 to 1994 (n=1,132) and compared it with data from a new cohort (n=902) in 2004 to 2005.

Trends in diabetes, complications

The prevalence of diabetes nearly doubled from 20.3% in 1993 to 1994 to 37.2% in 2004 to 2005 (P=.001) — the increase was similar across all sociodemographic factors, according to the researchers.

The researchers reported no significant difference in the prevalence of microvascular or macrovascular complications and other diabetes-related complications. However, the prevalence of having any lower-extremity function disability increased from 1993 to 1994 to 2004 to 2005.

In addition, obesity rates significantly increased from 20.3% in 1993 to 1994 to 28.9% in 2004 to 2005 (P=.001). Self-reported hypertension significantly increased from 36.6% to 56.7% during the two time periods (P=.001).

Researchers further identified a significant increase in the average educational attainment between the two cohorts, from 4.3 years in the original cohort to 5.3 years in the new cohort (P=.003). A significant increase was also found for the number of patients with Medicare and private insurance from 17% to 25.4% (P=.049).

“These findings heighten the urgency for more effective public health interventions targeted to this population,” the researchers wrote. “As diabetes and obesity become more prevalent in older adults, physicians should encourage appropriate management in older patients, including early detection and glycemic control.”

Beard HA. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:2212–2217.