SURVEY RESULTS
NUTS-1 regions
4.22. Biochemical measurements
Diabetes as a risk factor for NCDs was assessed by means of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c measurements.
Fig. 40 shows the mean fasting blood glucose of the study population, including those currently on medication for diabetes (but excluding non-fasting recipients), was 97.8 mg/dl. The increases in levels for both sexes, from 86.3 mg/dl in the group aged 15–29 to 116.2 mg/dl in the group aged ≥ 70, underlines that this value increases in general with age.
Fig. 40. Mean fasting blood glucose, by sex and age group
Fig. 35. Mean fasting blood glucose, by sex and age group
Fig. 36. Prevalence of impaired fasting glycaemia by sex and age group
86.3 93.8 102.3 118.8 106.5 96.2
86.4 95.8 106.5 115.1 123.0 99.3
86.3 94.8 104.4 116.9 116.2 97.8
0
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
mg/Dl
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
Of all the respondents, 7.9% had impaired fasting glycaemia (plasma venous value of 110–126 mg/dl); 8.1% for men and 7.7% for women. The frequency increased from 4.7% in the group aged 15–29 to 12.6% in the group aged ≥ 70 (Fig. 41).
81 Fig. 41. Prevalence of impaired fasting glycaemia by sex and age group
19
Fig. 35. Mean fasting blood glucose, by sex and age group
Fig. 36. Prevalence of impaired fasting glycaemia by sex and age group
86.3 93.8 102.3 118.8 106.5 96.2
86.4 95.8 106.5 115.1 123.0 99.3
86.3 94.8 104.4 116.9 116.2 97.8
0
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
mg/Dl
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
Further, 11.1% of the study population had raised blood glucose (plasma venous value ≥ 126 mg/dl) or were currently on medication for diabetes; 10.6% for men and 11.5% for women. The frequency increased from 1.5%
in the group aged 15–29 to 29.3% in the group aged ≥ 70 (Fig. 42).
Fig. 42. Proportions of respondents who had raised blood glucose or were currently on medication for diabetes,
by sex and age groupFig. 37. Proportions of respondents who had raised blood glucose or were currently on medication for diabetes, by sex and age groups
Fig. 38. Percentage of respondents with raised HbA1c.� 6.5%. by sex and age group
2.1 7.8 14.5 30,6 27.0 10.6
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
The proportion of respondents with mean HbA1c results, including those currently on medication for diabetes (but excluding non-fasting respondents), was 5.9%; 5.9% for both men and women (Table 51). The mean HbA1c level increased from 5.5% in the group aged 15–29 to 6.5% in those aged ≥70.
Table 51. Proportions of respondents with mean HbA1c, by sex and age group
15–29 251 5.5 5.4–5.6 319 5.4 5.4–5.5 570 5.5 5.4–5.5
30–44 332 5.7 5.6–5.9 524 5.7 5.6–5.7 856 5.7 5.6–5.8
45–59 348 6.2 6.0–6.4 557 6.3 6.1–6.5 905 6.3 6.1–6.4
60–69 226 6.8 6.4–7.2 283 6.5 6.3–6.8 509 6.7 6.4–6.9
≥ 70 182 6.4 6.2–6.6 316 6.6 6.3–6.9 499 6.5 6.3–6.7
Total 1339 5.9 5.8–6.0 1999 5.9 5.8–6.0 3338 5.9 5.8–6.0
Of all the respondents, 12.0% had raised HbA1c; 11.9% for men and 12.2% for women. The frequency increased from 1.5% in the group aged 15–29 to 32.9% in those aged ≥ 70 (Fig. 43).
Fig. 43. Percentage of respondents with raised HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, by sex and age group
2.3 6.2 21.5 29.7 30.5 11.9
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Hypertension Type 2 diabetes Heart attack Cancer
Hypercholes-terolemia Chest pain
from heart Stroke
(cerebrovascular Other
Percentage
13.3% of the study population had raised HbA1C (≥6,5%) or were currently on medication for diabetes (12.7%
for men and 13.8% for women) (Table 52).
Table 52. Proportion of respondents with raised HbA1C (≥6.5%) or who were currently on medication for diabetes Age group
(years)
Men Women Both sexes
N % 95% CI N % 95% CI N % 95% CI
15–29 240 2.3 0.2–4.5 310 1.4 0.0–2.9 550 1.9 0.6–3.2
30–44 324 7.0 3.8–10.2 511 6.1 2.9-9.4 835 6.6 4.3–8.9
45–59 336 22.4 15.9–28.9 546 22.2 16.0–28.3 882 22.3 17.8–26.8
60–69 224 32.5 23.3–41.8 283 39.0 30.5–47.5 507 35.9 29.6–42.1
≥ 70 179 32.7 21.1–44.4 304 36.2 27.0–45.4 483 34.8 27.6–42.0
Total 1303 12.7 10.4–15.1 1954 13.8 11.5–16.1 3257 13.3 11.6–14.9
83 In addition, 17.3% of the study population had raised HbA1c or raised blood glucose or were currently on medication; 16.3% for men and 18.3% for women. The frequency increased from 2.8% in the group aged 15–29 to 43.0% in the group aged ≥ 70 (Fig. 44).
Fig. 44. Proportions of respondents with raised HbA1c or raised blood glucose or were currently on medication,
by sex and age groupFig. 39. Proportions of respondents with raised HbA1c or raised blood glucose or were currently on medication, by sex and age group
Fig. 40. Percentages of respondents with total cholesterol levels � 190 mg/dl or � 240 mg/dl or currently on medication for raised cholesterol, by sex
4.0 10.9 26.8 38.2 38.9 16.3
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Total cholesterol ≥ 190 mg/dl Total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
The mean total cholesterol level of the study population, including those currently on medication for raised cholesterol, was 161.2 mg/dl; 154.9 mg/dl for men and 167.3 mg/dl for women. The mean level rose from 139.7 mg/dl in the group aged 15–29 to 178.6 mg/dl in those aged 45–59 (Table 53).
Table 53. Mean total cholesterol, by sex and age group Age 15–29 246 137.8 132.4–143.2 311 141.8 136.6–147.0 557 139.7 135.9–143.6 30–44 326 160.4 153.6–167.2 520 163.4 158.3–168.5 846 161.9 157.7–166.1 45–59 342 168.1 161.1–175.2 551 189.5 180.9–198.2 893 178.6 173.0–184.2 60–69 226 164.4 156.4–172.4 287 191.2 184.9–197.5 513 178.4 172.9–183.8
≥ 70 180 156.9 148.9–165.0 314 192.0 177.8–206.2 494 177.5 167.7–187.4 Total 1320 154.9 151.4–158.5 1983 167.3 163.7–171.0 3303 161.2 158.5–163.8 The respondents currently on medication for raised cholesterol included 24.7% with a total cholesterol ≥ 190 mg/dl (20.9% for men and 28.5% for women) and 8.0% with a total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl (6.5% for men and 9.5% for women) (Fig. 45). Table 54 shows the mean HDL level in the study population: 45.9 mg/dl (40.5 mg/
dl for men and 51.2 mg/dl for women). The mean HDL cholesterol of women was 50.1 mg/dl in the group aged 15–29 and in general increased with age, reaching 52.5 mg/dl in those aged ≥70. The mean HDL cholesterol for
4. SURVEY RESULTS
men was the lowest with 38.8 mg/dl in those aged 30–44 and increased with age, rising to 43.2 mg/dl in the group aged ≥70.
Fig. 45. Percentages of respondents with total cholesterol levels ≥ 190 mg/dl including ≥ 240 mg/dl or currently on medication for raised cholesterol, by sex
21
Fig. 40. Percentages of respondents with total cholesterol levels � 190 mg/dl or � 240 mg/dl or currently on medication for raised cholesterol, by sex
4.0 10.9 26.8 38.2 38.9 16.3
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Total cholesterol ≥ 190 mg/dl Total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
Table 54. Respondents’ mean HDL cholesterol levels, by sex and age group Age
15–29 246 42.0 39.8–44.2 317 50.1 48.1–52.1 563 46.0 44.4–47.6
30–44 328 38.8 37.2–40.4 522 51.2 49.2–53.2 850 44.9 43.5–46.4
45–59 343 39.3 37.5–41.1 556 51.8 49.8–53.9 899 45.5 44.0–47.1
60–69 224 41.6 39.2–44.1 284 52.0 50.0–54.0 508 47.0 45.3–48.8
≥ 70 182 43.2 39.9–46.5 315 52.5 49.9–55.1 497 48.7 46.6–50.7
Total 1323 40.5 39.4–41.5 1994 51.2 50.2–52.2 3317 45.9 45.0–46.7
Low HDL is defined as a plasma venous value < 50mg/dl for women and < 40mg/dl for men; 52.3% of respondents had low HDL (55.6% for men and 49.1% for women) (Fig. 46). In addition, 61.7% of the men aged 30–44 was below the optimal level of HDL cholesterol; this proportion fell to 40.4% in those aged ≥70; this percentage decreased with age in general. The percentage of HDL cholesterol below the optimal level for women was similar in all age groups.
Fig. 46. Percentages of respondents with low HDL cholesterol, by sex and age group (< 50 mg/dl for women and
< 40 mg/dl for men)Fig. 41. Percentages of respondents with low HDL cholesterol, by sex and age group (< 50 mg/dl for women and < 40 mg/dl for men)
Fig. 42. Percentages of respondents with fasting triglycerides levels � 150 mg/dl and � 180 mg/dl, by sex
48.0 50.9 48.7 48.9 48.4 49.1
0
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Fasting triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl Fasting triglycerides ≥ 180 mg/dl
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
Table 55 shows that the mean fasting triglycerides level for all respondents (excluding non-fasting respondents) was 122.8 mg/dl; 129.0 mg/dl for men and 116.7 mg/dl for women. The mean level increased from 99.1 mg/dl in the group aged 15–29 to 144.5 mg/dl in the group aged 45–59, and tended to decrease in older age.
Table 55. Respondents’ mean fasting triglycerides by sex and age group Age
15–29 239 109.9 99.9–119.8 306 87.7 82.2–93.2 545 99.1 93.0–105.1
30–44 321 137.1 126.7–147.5 509 112.2 102.4–122.0 830 124.8 117.5–132.1 45–59 331 143.1 132.6–153.6 540 145.8 128.7–162.9 871 144.5 134.3–154.6 60–69 220 144.0 126.1–162.0 281 141.4 128.9–154.0 501 142.7 131.7–153.6
≥ 70 173 116.4 105.2–127.6 297 135.6 123.0–148.3 470 127.7 118.6–136.8 Total 1284 129.0 123.2–134.9 1933 116.7 110.8–122.5 3217 122.8 118.5–127.1 Of all the respondents, 25.6% had fasting triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl (30.2% for men and 21.0% for women) and 16.7% had fasting triglycerides ≥ 180 mg/dl (19.9% for men and 13.6% for women) (Fig. 47).
4. SURVEY RESULTS
Fig. 47. Percentages of respondents with fasting triglycerides levels ≥ 150 mg/dl and ≥ 180 mg/dl, by sex
22
Fig. 42. Percentages of respondents with fasting triglycerides levels � 150 mg/dl and � 180 mg/dl, by sex
48.0 50.9 48.7 48.9 48.4 49.1
0
15–29 30–44 45–59 60–69 ≥70 TOTAL
Percentage
Fasting triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl Fasting triglycerides ≥ 180 mg/dl
Percentage
Men Women Both sexes
Respondents’ mean salt intake was 9.9 g per day; 11.0 g for men and 8.7 g for women.
4.22.1. Conclusions
Some of the most important results from biochemical measurements of respondents included the following:
● the mean fasting glucose level was 97.8 mg/dl (96.2 mg/dl for men and 99.3 mg/dl for women) and levels increased in older age, including those currently on medication for diabetes;
● 7.9% had impaired fasting blood glycaemia levels (≥ 110 mg/dl and < 126 mg/dl and this proportion was higher among men (8.1%) than women (7.7%);
● 11.1% had raised fasting blood glucose or currently on medication for diabetes, without significant differences between men and women;
● mean HbA1c levels were also similar in men and women, although the frequency of raised HbA1c (≥ 6.5%) was 12.0% and increased with age;
● 13.3% had raised HbA1C (≥6,5%) or were currently on medication for diabetes (12.7% for men and 13.8%
for women)
● 17.3% had fasting plasma venous glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or were currently on medication for raised blood glucose; the frequency of all three increased with age;
● the mean total blood cholesterol level was 161.2 mg/dl, although women (167.3 mg/dl) tended to have higher levels than men (154.9 mg/dl);
● 24.7% had a raised total cholesterol level, with a higher proportion in women (28.5%) than men (20.9%);
● suboptimal levels of HDL cholesterol were found in 55.6% of men (< 40 mg/dl) and 49.1% of women (< 50 mg/dl);
● men had higher mean levels of fasting triglycerides, and 19.9% of men and 13.6% of women had raised triglycerides (≥ 180 mg/dl);
● the mean daily intake of salt was 9.9 g and men consumed more than women on average (11.0 g per day versus 8.7 g per day).