10 Jun Study Documents Rapid Rise in Pre-Diabetes

Posted at 00:42h in Author Interviews, BMJ, Diabetes by

Arch G. Mainous III, PhD Chair and Florida Blue Endowed Professor Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy Professor of Community Health and Family Medicine University of Florida Health Science Center Gainesville, FL 32610MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Arch G. Mainous III, PhD
Chair and Florida Blue Endowed Professor
Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy
Professor of Community Health and Family Medicine
University of Florida
Health Science Center Gainesville, FL 32610

MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?

Professor Arch Mainous: This study focused on prediabetes, which is a high risk state for developing diabetes and associated complications. We investigated the national prevalence of prediabetes in England between 2003 and 2011. We found that the prevalence of prediabetes rose substantially in that time period from 11.6% to 35.3%. Further, by 2011 more than half of the population who were 40 years of age and older and were overweight had prediabetes. Minority ethnic groups are particularly affected.

MedicalResearch: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Professor Arch Mainous: What was unexpected was the high percentage of individuals with prediabetes and the rapid rise in prevalence.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Professor Arch Mainous: Since prediabetes is such a strong risk factor for diabetes, this suggests that without some major societal modifications and interventions in England there will be a large increase in the number of adults with diabetes. This has dramatic implications for health care resources. Interventions for prediabetes have been shown to limit the transition to diabetes. Although screening and interventions for prediabetes are recommended in the United States by the American Diabetes Association, this is still somewhat controversial in the United Kingdom.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Professor Arch Mainous: Future research will need to investigate the utility of interventions in both the physician’s office as well as the community to try and deal with prediabetes and keep individuals from transitioning to diabetes in England. Prevention of diabetes is the goal.

Citation:

Prevalence of prediabetes in England from 2003 to 2011: population-based, cross-sectional study
Arch G Mainous III, Rebecca J Tanner, Richard Baker,Cilia E Zayas, Christopher A Harle

BMJ Open 2014;4:6 e005002 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005002

 

Last Updated on June 10, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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