[Prevalences of diabetes, glucose intolerance, hyperlipemia and risk factors as a function of socioeconomic level].

We studied the prevalence of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and hyperlipemia in older than 15 years old population in the city of San Luis Potosi and in a rural area 50 km north of this city. They are located in the state of San Luis Potosi in the central plateau of Mexico. A total of 1136 subjects were surveyed (645 males, 491 females). Weight and height were measured and the body mass index (BMI) calculated in all subjects. After a fasting capillary sample was obtained, 75 g of glucose were given and a second sample was taken 120 minutes later. The WHO recommendations for diagnosis of DM were used. The overall prevalence of DM was 10.0%: the lowest rate was for individuals in the rural area (0.9%) which contrasts with the 11% seen in the urban population (p 0.0001). In the urban subjects, the highest rates were observed in the very low income group (27.7%) whereas the low income group had a rate of 6.2%; the prevalence was 7.0, 7.7 and 18.2% in the medium, high medium and high socioeconomic groups. The prevalence was influenced by age, BMI, sex (males = 6.8% females = 14.3%) and socioeconomic status; hypercholesterolemia (> 200 mg/dL) was found in 16%. In conclusion, we have documented high rates of NIDDM in a mexican urban population with very high levels in the very poor which contrasts with the rural population.