Prevalence of metabolically obese, normal-weight individuals among first degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the prevalence of metabolically obese, normal-weight individuals and related risk factors among first degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods : Collection of data was carried out during the period from October 2009 till May 2010, at the Duhok Diabetes Center, Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 250 individuals.

They were selected from first degree relatives (sons or daughters) of patients diagnosed as type2 diabetes mellitus.

General information for each individual was obtained by questionnaire designed for the study.

Demographic information, historical data about personal and family history, anthropometric measurements, and fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin levels and homeostatic model insulin resistance were estimated.

The individuals were classified to metabolically obese normal weight and non-metabolically obese normal weight (Ruderman, et al, 1998 revised criteria).

Results : The prevalence of metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) individuals among first degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was Individuals with MNOW had higher mean age, body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure than non-MONW group.

MONW individuals had also higher mean values for serum glucose, triglycerides and uric acid, but lower serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations.

Blood pressure, abdominal obesity, glucose and triglycerides were significantly prevalent in the MONW group.

The data analysis of personal history according to scoring method for identifying MONW individual revealed that a high proportion of the MONW group had history of birth weight (< 2.5 kg), inactivity (< 90 min / week), weight gain in adulthood, family history of essential hypertension, family history of hypertriglyceridemia and coronary heart disease.

Conclusions : Our preliminary data show a high prevalence of metabolically obese normal-weight individuals among first degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

This finding may have clinical implication due to the increased risk of future metabolic disease.

disease.1 Since then it has become increasingly clear that such metabolically obese normal weight (MONW) individuals are common in the general population and that they probably represent one end of the spectrum of people with the IR syndrome.

Available evidence also suggest that MONW individuals could account for the higher prevalence of type 2 DM, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders in people with a body mass index (BMI) in the 20-27 kg / m2 range who have gained modest amount of weight (2-10 kg of adipose mass) in adult life.2 Conus and his colleague analyzed nine publications on MONW and concluded that despite difference in the criteria for diagnosis of MONW, the prevalence rate is 5-45 % depending on age, BMI, and ethnicity.3 It is well established that first-degree relatives of type 2 DM patients are a high risk category for developing type DM which may potentially be MONW individuals.4 Reports on this issue are limited5 and the prevalence of this entity has not been established in the first degree relatives of type 2 DM patients who are inherently at high risk for type 2 DM.

Thus, this preliminary study aimed to study the prevalence of MONW in apparently healthy individuals-first degree relatives of type 2 DM patients, and to ascertain the relationship between MONW and related risk factors.