Prevalence of type-2 Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes using HbA1c in OGDCL Employees

Objectives: A screening survey using glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as the screening tool, was conducted amid OGDCL employees across Pakistan to evaluate the occurrence of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Methodology: This study included employees aged ≥ 40 years working at OGDCL's Head Office and various Oil Fields across Pakistan, all of whom subjected to HbA1c testing. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages, with data presented graphically using bar charts. Chi-square tests were used to compare characteristics across three groups: non-diabetes, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. A significance level of p≤0.05 indicated significance, while p≤0.01 was considered highly significant. Results: A total of 8689 participants were recruited in our study. Out of which 66.26% were non- diabetic and the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes was found to be 12.3% and 21.5% respectively. In our study 34.7% of the participants had family history of diabetes. In diabetic people percentage (54%) of having family history of diabetes was high as compared to the non-diabetics (29%) and pre-diabetics (32.1%) individuals which created a substantial variance between the three groups. (p=0.001) Majority 94.8% of the study participants never smoked, 3.3% were current smokers and 1.9% had history of smoking. The prevalence of current smokers was high (6.1%) in pre-diabetes as compared to the diabetes (2.0%) and non-diabetes (3.2%). A strong significant association was observed between smoking and pre-diabetes. (p=0.0001) In our study prevalence of hypertension among pre-diabetes and diabetes was 21% and 20% respectively. (p=0.738) The majority 57.8% of the participants in our study was overweight and the prevalence of obese was 10.7%. (p=0.001) Conclusions: In OGDCL, there is much higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes as was previously thought. Comprehensive approaches are required to be established to integrate screening, prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes both at primary and secondary health care levels, at Head Office and Oil Fields. This is necessary not only for intensification of the workout put but also to cut down the medical budget.