74 JCPSP 2005, Vol. 15 (2): 74-77 INTRODUCTION World Health Organization estimates that non-communicable diseases accounted for nearly 40% of all deaths in developing countries. 1 The global burden of non-communicable diseases is emerging as a major public health challenge and these are projected to account for 73% of global mortality by the year 2020. 2 Over the last three decades, type-2 diabetes has emerged as one of the major causes of premature mortality and morbidity in most countries. In virtually every developed society, diabetes is ranked among the leading causes of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputation. Nearly 80% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease making it one of the leading causes of death. 3 Current estimates suggest that some 194 million people worldwide have diabetes and that this will increase to 333 million by the year 2025. It is also predicted that by the year 2025 the largest number of persons with diabetes would be in the South-East Asian Region with about 82 million people with diabetes. 3 Pakistan is 7th in the world according to latest estimates of prevalence of diabetes with 7 million people suffering from diabetes and by the year 2025, the country is expected to be 4th with 15 million people suffering from diabetes, representing a 2-fold increase in caseload. 3,4 Recent epidemiological studies have recognized type-2 diabetes in the young to be frequent in various populations. 5- 7 Since the incidence and prevalence of childhood type-2 diabetes is increasing, the prevention and treatment of type-2 diabetes in children and youth is needed. The full effect of this epidemic will be felt as these children become adults and develop the long-term complications of diabetes at an earlier age. Studies have shown that lifestyle modifications started early in life will yield better results; especially in prevention of diabetes. 8,9 Primary prevention studies have also shown that lifestyle changes have an impact on the progression of the disease. Thus, lifestyle interventions at an early age may prove to be more effective than interventions done at a later stage. 9 Pakistani children are adopting a progressively unhealthy lifestyle with increased sedentary entertainment such as television, computer and video games resulting in physical ORIGINAL ARTICLE COMPARISON OF RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES IN CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Hydrie, Abdul Basit,* Mohammad Yakoob Ahmedani,* Naeema Badruddin,** M. Qamar Masood* and Zahid Miyan.* ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the risk factors for diabetes in children of two different socioeconomic status. Design : A cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Visits to one government (low income) and two private (middle income) schools of Karachi in 1999 and 2000. Patients and Methods : A total of 260 children; 157 children (mean age 12.10 ± 4 years) from low-income group and 103 children (mean age 10.6 ± 0.9 years) from middle-income group were surveyed. Data of physical fitness score (PFS) and BMI was calculated. Dietary records were taken by 24 hours self-reported diet recall charts of two weekdays. Knowledge about health was obtained by a questionnaire given to children and mothers. Results: A significant difference was found in the mean age of low-income and middle-income groups (p-value < 0.001). Significant association was seen in low-income group compared to middle-income group on the basis of TV viewing (p-value = 0.04). BMI (p-value = 0.011) and positive family history of diabetes (p-value < 0.001). Forty-seven percent (n=74) of children from low-income group while 51% (n=53) of middle-income group had poor knowledge about health. The children in both the groups also consumed inadequate amount of calories, the diet being poor in fruit, vegetables and milk and high in the fat content. Conclusion : Although children in both the groups had increased risk factors for diabetes the difference between the two socioeconomic groups was significant in terms of middle-income children having more risk. Thus, changes in lifestyle and behaviour including diet is needed in this high risk group to prevent future generations from developing diabetes. KEY WORDS: Risk factors. Children. Diabetes. Diet. Socioeconomic. Middle-income. Low-income. Physical activity. Family history. Department of Research, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi. *Department of Medicine, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi. **Department of Diet and Education, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi. Correspondence: Dr. M. Zafar Iqbal Hydrie, III – B, 3/17 Nazimabad No. 3, Karachi - 74600. Pakistan. E-mail: bideresearch@hotmail.com Received March 29, 2004; accepted November 22, 2004.