The prevalence and determinants of impaired fasting glucose in the population of Taiwan

BACKGROUND: A current prevalence and relevant risk factors for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) have been reported by various ethnic groups and countries. By contrast, nationwide data for the incidence of IFG in Taiwan have not been presented in the past 15 years. The aim for this manuscript was to estimate the prevalence of IFG and associated risk factors in the population of Taiwan. METHODS: For this cross-sectional research, we used a nationally representative sample (N = 2604) obtained from the 2005–2008 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT), and adopted a stratified multistage sampling design. The tools employed for data collection included questionnaire interviews, anthropometry measurements, and laboratory analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of IFG among adults in Taiwan is 35.8% (a fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl is considered abnormal). An estimated number of people with IFG is 6.5 million. A higher prevalence of IFG is observed in men younger than 65 years compared to women. However, this trend is reversed for the elderly population. The factors significantly associated with IFG include the following: sex, age, overweight (27 > BMI ≥ 24), obesity (BMI ≥ 27), waist circumference (men ≥ 90 cm, women ≥ 80 cm), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: IFG among adults in Taiwan is a health concern that requires attention. We recommend targeting the younger population, especially overweight and obese men between the ages of 19 and 40 years, to provide applicable healthy lifestyle counseling and services. Furthermore, appropriate screening of elderly people is required to detect undiagnosed IFG cases and provide early intervention and treatment.