Sex and age differences in prevalence and risk factors for prediabetes in Mexican-Americans

Over 1/3 of Americans have prediabetes, while 9.4% have type 2 diabetes. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes in Mexican Americans, with known 28.2% prevalence of type 2 diabetes, by age and sex and to identify critical socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with prediabetes. Data were collected between 2004 and 2017 from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort in Texas. Weighted crude and sex- and age- stratified prevalences were calculated. Survey weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for prediabetes. The prevalence of prediabetes (32%) was slightly higher than the alarmingly high rate of type 2 diabetes (28.2%). Hispanic men had the highest overall (37.8%) and highest age stratified prevalence of prediabetes. Males had higher odds of prediabetes than females 1.56 (1.19, 2.06), controlling for the effect of family history of diabetes, age, BMI, and high-density lipoprotein. Family history of diabetes was a strong independent risk factor for prediabetes in all men, and in men and women in the age group 40–64 years. Elevated triglycerides (p = 0.003) was an independent risk factor for men and women in the age group 18–39 years. Despite the very high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes prevalence among Mexican Americans is only marginally less than national prediabetes rates. This suggests that progression to type 2 diabetes is more rapid and occurs earlier than nationally. Earlier screening and interventions for prediabetes, especially for men, are necessary to slow the transition to diabetes.