Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of glucose intolerance (prediabetes or diabetes) in children and adolescents in urban South India.
Subjects and methods: Children (6-11 years old) and adolescents (12-19 years old) (n=1,519; 777 boys and 742 girls) were randomly selected from residential apartments representing the 10 corporation zones of Chennai city. Height, weight, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and blood pressure were measured using standardized techniques. Investigations included oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), lipid profile, and fasting insulin. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).
Results: The overall prevalence of glucose intolerance was 3.7% but was higher in girls compared with boys (4.2% vs. 3.2%, P<0.001) and increased to 12.7% in girls with abdominal obesity. On univariate regression, the following risk factors showed significant association with glucose intolerance in girls: adolescent age group (odds ratio [OR] 2.94; confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 7.76), waist circumference (OR 4.45; CI 1.95, 10.14), body mass index (OR 2.73; CI 1.32, 5.65), acanthosis nigricans (OR 2.35; CI 1.14, 4.83), family history of diabetes (OR 2.52; CI 1.07, 5.92), and HOMA-IR (OR 9.30; CI 3.59, 24.12). On multivariate analysis, only family history of diabetes (OR 4.11; CI 1.28, 13.22; P=0.018) and HOMA-IR (OR 11.22; CI 4.19, 30.05; P<0.001) remained significant. In boys only HOMA-IR (OR 5.19; CI 1.54, 17.44; P=0.008) was associated with glucose intolerance.
Conclusions: The prevalence of glucose intolerance is high in Asian Indian adolescents, particularly in girls with abdominal obesity.