The prevalence of glucose metabolism disturbances in Chinese Muslims and possible risk factors: a study from northwest China Prevalência e possíveis fatores de risco de distúrbios no metabolismo da glicose em chineses muçulmanos: um estudo no noroeste da China

Objective: To survey the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM) in the Muslim population in northwest China, and discuss the risk factor. Materials and methods: According to the income and the population, we randomly selected 3 villages with stratified and cluster sampling. The subjects were residents ≥ 20 years of age, and were from families which have been local for > 3 generations. The questionnaire and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were completed and analyzed for 660 subjects. Results: The prevalence of DM and PDM between the Han and Muslim populations were different (P = 0.041). And the prevalence were also different with respect to age in the Han (P 0.05). The intake of salt (P < 0.001) and edible oil (P < 0.001) in the Muslim population was higher than the Han, while cigarette smoking (P < 0.001) and alcohol consumption (P < 0.001) was lower. BMI (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.025), and smoking cigarettes (P = 0.011) were risk factors for DM and PDM, but alcohol consumption (P < 0.001) was a protective factor. Conclusions: In northwest China, the prevalence of DM was higher in the Muslim population, and it was special higher on the 20-year-old age compared to the Han. This might be explained by the potential genetic differences and poor dietary habits. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(7):715-23