Impaired glucose metabolism in regular occupational health checkups for a military population: surrounding the metabolic enemy

Introduction: Impaired glucose metabolism, including diabetes and pre-diabetes, is a major cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the glucose metabolism status of employees based on regular occupational health checkups in a military population to plan a more effective program. Methods: From a registry of regular occupational health checkups covering the years 2011 through 2015 in a military medical organization, the study extracted data on age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), job (medical or non-medical), smoking, history and/or family history of diabetes and hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting blood glucose (FBS), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density and high-density lipoproteins. Results: Data were collected for 783 apparently healthy individuals, 536 (68.5%) male and 247 (31.5%) female. According to duplicated FBS tests, 17 cases (2.3%) were at diabetic level (FBS≥126 mg/dL), 100 (13.7%) had pre-diabetes (100≤FBS≤125 mg/dL), and 612 (78.2%) had normal FBS (<100 mg/dL). Overall, 1.3% of cases had undiagnosed diabetes and 12.8% had undiagnosed pre-diabetes. Gender, age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were significantly associated with impaired glucose metabolism. Non-medical staff had significantly higher prevalence abnormal FBS than medical employees. Importantly, the probability of impaired glucose metabolism increased with clustering of the risk factors. Discussion: A considerable proportion of apparently healthy middle-aged employees of a military medical organization had disturbed glucose metabolism, which was first diagnosed in regular occupational health checkups. A personalized multidimensional approach would enhance individualized risk-assessment models.