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Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardio-Metabolic Risk in Individuals with Undiagnosed Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2008

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Abstract

Background

Although early recognition and treatment of diabetes may be essential to prevent complications, roughly one-fifth of diabetes remains undiagnosed.

Objective

Examine cardio-metabolic risk factors and their control in non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB) and Mexican American (MA) individuals with undiagnosed diabetes.

Design

Nationally representative cross-sectional study of participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) continuous cycles conducted 1999 through 2008.

Participants

Of 22,621 non-pregnant individuals aged ≥20 years, 2521 had diagnosed diabetes. Of the remaining 20,100 individuals, 17,963 had HbA1c measured, 551 of whom were classified as having undiagnosed diabetes and comprise the study population.

Main Measures

Undiagnosed diabetes was defined as HbA1c ≥ 6.5% without a self-report of physician diagnosed diabetes. Cardio-metabolic risk factor control was examined using regression methods for complex survey data.

Key Results

Among individuals with undiagnosed diabetes, mean HbA1c level was 7.7% (95% CI: 7.5, 7.9), 19.3% (95% CI: 14.2, 24.3) smoked, 59.7% (95% CI: 54.5, 64.8%) had hypertension and 96.5% (95% CI: 94.6, 98.4%) had dyslipidemia. Lipid profiles were remarkably different across racial-ethnic groups: NHB had the highest LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, but the lowest triglycerides, while MA had the highest triglycerides and the lowest LDL-cholesterol. After adjusting for age, sex, NHANES examination cycle and use of either blood pressure or lipid medication, the odds of having blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg was higher in NHB [1.92 (95% CI: 1.09, 3.55)] than NHW, while the odds of having LDL-cholesterol >100 mg/dl was higher in NHW[2.93 (95% CI: 1.37, 6.24)] and NHB[3.34 (95% CI: 1.08, 10.3)] than MA.

Conclusions

In a nationally representative sample of individuals with undiagnosed diabetes, cardio-metabolic risk factor levels were high across all racial/ethnic groups, but NHB and MA had poorer control compared to NHW. Interventions that target identification of diabetes and treatment of cardio-metabolic risk factors are needed.

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Acknowledgment

This material is based upon work supported in part by the Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC. Further support is provided through VA HSR&D REAP Award (grant #IIR-06-219) as well as the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01-MD004251). The funding agency did not participate in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

All authors had access to the data and contributed to the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Disease Prevention and Health Interventions for Diverse Populations, Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA

    Kelly J. Hunt PhD, Mulugeta Gebregziabher PhD & Leonard E. Egede MD, MS

  2. Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Suite 302, P.O. Box 250835, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Kelly J. Hunt PhD & Mulugeta Gebregziabher PhD

  3. Center for Health Disparities Research, Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Suite 302, P.O. Box 250835, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Leonard E. Egede MD, MS

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  1. Kelly J. Hunt PhD
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  3. Leonard E. Egede MD, MS
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Correspondence to Kelly J. Hunt PhD.

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Hunt, K.J., Gebregziabher, M. & Egede, L.E. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Cardio-Metabolic Risk in Individuals with Undiagnosed Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2008. J GEN INTERN MED 27, 893–900 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-012-2023-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-012-2023-7

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