Population based family history analysis of Brahmins in a small town in India for the prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the inheritance pattern of type-2 diabetes and make stratification for the general population risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was developed for o btaining the family history. Analysis of the data was carried out by using student and Chi-square tests and for stratification; the guidelines of Scheuner et al. were followed. RESULTS: The pattern of inheritance is the male sex specific (χ² =13.44). The mean age of onset of diabetes in parents was 58.61 ± 2.94 and in offspring 46.75 ± 2.54. In all 47.22 ± 11.53% families were found in high risk and 31.94 ± 10.77% in the moderate risk category. In female diabetics, the onset was in the age range of 41-60 years. CONCLUSION: We found a high-risk of diabetes and familial clustering in successive generations of Brahmins with prominent male sex specificity. In females onset of diabetes was coinciding with the period around menopause.