Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in El Trébol, Argentina: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and major cardiometabolic comorbidities in adults living in El Trébol, Argentina, and to evaluate their associations using laboratory-confirmed, community-based data. Methods: A cross-sectional, probabilistic, two-phase design was implemented, combining a household survey with clinical and biochemical assessments. Of 1112 surveyed adults aged 20–79 years, 860 completed the clinical phase and formed the effective sample. Cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and physical inactivity, were assessed through standardized measurements and questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression explored independent associations with DM. Results: Crude DM prevalence was 10.47%, higher in men and increasing markedly with age; the age-standardized prevalence for the Argentine population was 9.87%. Of all diabetes cases, 23% were previously undiagnosed. Obesity (35.62%), hypertension (38.83%), dyslipidemia, and physical inactivity (83.84%) were highly prevalent. DM was independently associated with older age, higher BMI, elevated triglycerides, lower HDL cholesterol, and insufficient physical activity. Conclusions: This study reveals a substantial cardiometabolic burden in a small urban Argentine population and suggests that self-report-based national surveys may misestimate true DM prevalence. Laboratory-confirmed, community-based surveillance is essential to strengthen early detection, guide targeted interventions, and inform equitable public health strategies.