Inverse Association between Vitamin D Status and Diabetes in a Clinic Based Sample of Hispanic Adults in Puerto Rico
Diabetes affects 25.8 million people of all ages in the United States, which represents 8.3% of the US population.
This is higher in Hispanics as evidenced by data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, a population-based cohort study of Hispanic and Latino adults from diverse backgrounds, in which a diabetes prevalence of 16.7% in men and 17.2% in women was reported.
Among the Hispanic groups studied in HCHS/SOL, Puerto Ricans had the highest prevalence of diabetes, particularly among women. In addition, results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in Puerto Rico (PR) also showed that the estimated prevalence of self-reported diabetes was >12%,4
which is among the highest compared to other states and territories of the US.
Furthermore, a study in a representative sample of adults residing in the San
Juan Metropolitan Area of PR showed that the prevalence of diabetes was even higher,
with an age-standardized prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes, detected by Fasting Plasma
Glucose (FPG) and/or HbA1c, as 25.5% and 47.4%, respectively.
Diabetes is considered one of the leading causes of death in US and PR
therefore, this is an important
health disparity to address among Puerto Ricans.
Diabetes Res Open J. 2015; 1(1): 5-11. doi: 10.17140/DROJ-1-102