Elsevier

Annals of Epidemiology

Volume 6, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 67-73
Annals of Epidemiology

Original report
Diabetes mellitus, race, and socioeconomic status a population-based study

https://doi.org/10.1016/1047-2797(95)00095-XGet rights and content
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Abstract

To identify factors associated with diabetes mellitus and to determine whether racial differences in these factors, especially socioeconomic status, explain the high prevalence of diabetes among African-Americans, we performed a cross-sectional study using a population-based, representative sample from three US communities. The participants comprised 975 white and 418 African-American adults, aged 35 to 54 years. The main outcome variable was the presence of diabetes defined by either self-report or abnormal results on the oral glucose tolerance test (serum glucose level > 10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) 1 hour after 50-g oral glucose dose). Compared to their white counterparts, African-American participants were more overweight, displayed greater central adiposity, and had lower socioeconomic status. Diabetes was over twice as prevalent among African-Americans (10.3%) as compared to whites (4.6%; odds ratio (OR) = 2.38; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.50, 3.75; P = 0.0001). After adjustments for racial differences in age, socioeconomic status, overweight, and central adiposity, African-Americans remained over twice as likely to have diabetes compared to whites (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.49, 3.73; P = 0.0003). The excess prevalence of diabetes in African-Americans was greatest in individuals of low socioeconomic status (OR = 4.09) and least among individuals of high socioeconomic status (OR = 1.90; P < 0.001 for trend). Racial differences in obesity and socioeconomic status do not appear to explain fully the higher prevalence of diabetes among African-Americans. African-American race seems to be a strong, independent risk factor for diabetes, especially among individuals of low socioeconomic status.

Keywords

Epidemiology
African-Americans
socioeconomic status
obesity
risk factors
United States

Cited by (0)

Computer analysis was supported by a grant from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, General Clinical Research Centers (5MO1RR00035). This study was presented, in part, at the National Institutes of Health Mid-Atlantic Conference on Diabetes Mellitus, Bethesda, MD, September 12, 1993.

1

Dr. Brancati is a recipient of a Career Development Award from the American Diabetes Association.

2

Dr. Klag is an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.