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Type 2 diabetes incidence high among Asian Indians, Filipinos

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NEW ORLEANS — Among Asian adults, type 2 diabetes incidence was particularly high among Indian and Filipino populations vs. Japanese adults and other Asian ethnicities, according to a speaker at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.

“Despite more favorable risk factors for type 2 diabetes, some Asian populations had higher rates of diabetes than whites,” Linda S. Geiss, MA, of the Division of Diabetes Translation, CDC, told Endocrine Today. “Compared to white, Chinese and Japanese adults, Asian Indian and Filipino adults had the highest age- and sex-adjusted prevalence and multivariate-adjusted prevalence of diabetes. About two-thirds of Asian Indians and Filipinos had a BMI of at least 23 kg/m², a level that put them at risk for type 2 diabetes. Adjusting for type 2 diabetes risk factors did not explain differences in prevalence across the Asian populations and with whites.”

Geiss and colleagues analyzed data from the 2013-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and selected risk factors (age group, sex, education level, BMI and physical activity) in 656,538 non-Hispanic adults (639,901 white). The cohort included white (n = 639,901), Asian Indian (n = 3,091), Chinese (n = 2,506), Filipino (n = 3,156), Japanese (n = 2,678) and other Asian adults (n = 5,206). Researchers used logistic regression models to predict diabetes as a function of the selected risk factors.

Researchers found that distributions of risk factors varied among the Asian subgroups and whites without diabetes.

With the exception of Japanese adults, Asian subgroups were younger vs. whites, had higher educational attainment, and were less likely to have a BMI of at least 30 kg/m².

Diabetes prevalence was higher among Asian Indian adults vs. white adults (14.2%, vs. 9.5%; 95% CI, 12.1-16.5) and among Filipinos (18%; 95% CI, 14.6-22.0) after multivariable adjustment; however, adjusted prevalence rates were similar to whites for Japanese (10.1%, 95% CI, 7.3-13.6), all other Asians (10.9%; 95% CI, 8.9-13.2) and Chinese (7.6%; 95% CI, 5.5-10.4).

Geiss noted that diabetes prevalence was particularly high among Asian Indians and Filipinos aged at least 65 years (40%), suggesting “great need” for prevention efforts in those populations.

“BMI might not be a good indicator of type 2 diabetes risk in these populations,” Geiss said. “Other indicators of adiposity may need to be considered.” – by Regina Schaffer

Reference:

Geiss LS, et al, et al. 90-OR. Presented at: American Diabetes Association 76th Scientific Sessions; June 10-14, 2016; New Orleans.

Disclosure: Geiss reports no relevant financial disclosures.