Trends in Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Conditions in a Canadian First Nation Community, 2002–2003 to 2011–2012

INTRODUCTION: The burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among the Canadian First Nation population is disproportionately high compared with the general Canadian population. Continuous monitoring of the diabetes epidemic among the Canadian First Nations population is necessary to inform public health practice. The purpose of the study was to compare the prevalence of diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions in a Manitoba First Nation between 2 periods. METHODS: Study data were from 2 diabetes screening studies in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in Manitoba, collected in 2002–2003 and 2011–2012. All adults aged 18 years or older were invited to participate in both studies. Crude and sex- and age-standardized prevalence of diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions for each period were estimated and compared with each other by using χ(2) tests. RESULTS: Sex- and age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was estimated at 39.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.1–43.8) in 2002–2003 and was not significantly different (P = .99) in 2011–2012. Sex- and age-standardized obesity prevalence was significantly lower in 2011–2012, at 48.7% (95% CI, 44.6–52.7), compared with 60.8% (95% CI, 56.4–65.2) in 2002–2003 (P < .001). However, this finding was accounted for by a lower prevalence of obesity among men aged 40 to 49 and aged 50 years or older in 2011–2012 compared with 2002–2003. Sex- and age-standardized prevalence of hypertension (P = .97), abdominal obesity (P = .26), dyslipidemia (P = .73), and metabolic syndrome (P = .67) were not significantly different between periods. Significantly higher crude prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome among women compared with men persisted from 2002–2003 to 2011–2012. CONCLUSION: The diabetes epidemic remains a serious problem in this First Nation community. The gap in cardiometabolic burden between men and women has also persisted.