Comparison of type 2 diabetes prevalence in Chinese migrants vs Caucasians and new perspectives for screening of cerebrovascular disease in Chinese: A proof of concept study.

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a recognized risk factor for intracranial stenosis (ICS) in China where ischemic stroke is a health priority. In Europe little information is available on T2DM prevalence among Chinese minority groups and vascular screening is commonly limited to extracranial vessels. Feasibility of community-based T2DM screening, differences in T2DM prevalence between Chinese migrants and Italians, and prevalence of ICS among Chinese patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were investigated.

METHODS

Chinese first generation migrants (n=1200) and native Italians (n=291) aged 35-59years were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. Diagnosis of T2DM was based on fasting plasma glucose and/or current treatment with glucose-lowering drugs. Newly diagnosed Chinese patients were screened for ICS using Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

T2DM was more prevalent among Chinese (n=168, 14.0%) than Italians (n=21, 7.3%) (age- and gender adjusted OR 2.29; 95% C.L. 1.41-3.72). Prevalence of ICS among newly diagnosed Chinese was 18.2%. Nine out of the 17 patients with any ICS (52%) had >1 intracranial lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

T2DM screening within the Chinese community was feasible revealing prevalence twice as much as in the Italian cohort; the 18% prevalence of ICS in newly diagnosed Chinese patients stresses the need of implementing appropriate vascular screening strategies.