Background: In order to explore the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Taichung from 2000 to 2002, and establish the information for the evidence-based medicine. Method: This was a hospital-based, descriptive study. We retrospectively analyzed the patients receiving health checkups at one medical center located at Taichung city from January 2000 to December 2002. Totally 3281 patients were enrolled in this study, divided into three age groups, 20-39, 40-64 and≥65. DM was defined by previously diagnosed diabetic history, fasting whole blood glucose≥126 mg/dL or two-hour post-meal whole blood glucose≥200 mg/dL. The One-way ANOVA test and the chi-square test were used. Result: There were 1,426 women (43.5%) and 1855 men (56.5 %). The mean age was 49.4±12.4 years (age range 20-87 years). In both sex with normal fasting glucose, the older the age, the higher mean value of fasting glucose. There was a significant difference between three age groups (P<0.001). Among diabetic people, 43.8% of women and 40.9% of men were not aware of DM diagnosis. Overall, the prevalence of DM was 11.4% (9.6% women and 12.7% men, P<0.05). Among three age groups (20-39, 40-64 and≥65), the prevalence of DM was 1.7%, 8.8% and 24.2% in women (by chi-square test, P<0.001), and 2.4%, 14.2% and 25.4% in men (by chi-square test, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of DM remains relatively high in Taichung from 2000 to 2002. Due to high unawareness, population education and programs to intervene DM must be substantially intensified. We hope this study could provide basic information for further studies on the evidence-based medicine of DM in Taiwan.
Background: In order to explore the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Taichung from 2000 to 2002, and establish the information for the evidence-based medicine. Method: This was a hospital-based, descriptive study. We retrospectively analyzed the patients receiving health checkups at one medical center located at Taichung city from January 2000 to December 2002. Totally 3281 patients were enrolled in this study, divided into three age groups, 20-39, 40-64 and≥65. DM was defined by previously diagnosed diabetic history, fasting whole blood glucose≥126 mg/dL or two-hour post-meal whole blood glucose≥200 mg/dL. The One-way ANOVA test and the chi-square test were used. Result: There were 1,426 women (43.5%) and 1855 men (56.5 %). The mean age was 49.4±12.4 years (age range 20-87 years). In both sex with normal fasting glucose, the older the age, the higher mean value of fasting glucose. There was a significant difference between three age groups (P<0.001). Among diabetic people, 43.8% of women and 40.9% of men were not aware of DM diagnosis. Overall, the prevalence of DM was 11.4% (9.6% women and 12.7% men, P<0.05). Among three age groups (20-39, 40-64 and≥65), the prevalence of DM was 1.7%, 8.8% and 24.2% in women (by chi-square test, P<0.001), and 2.4%, 14.2% and 25.4% in men (by chi-square test, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of DM remains relatively high in Taichung from 2000 to 2002. Due to high unawareness, population education and programs to intervene DM must be substantially intensified. We hope this study could provide basic information for further studies on the evidence-based medicine of DM in Taiwan.