Diabetes Diagnostic Categories and the Prevalence of Hypertension, Renal Failure, and Cardiovascular Diseases in a Cross-Sectional Study: Iran National Survey – 2021; [ارتباط بین دسته های تشخیصی دیابت با فشار خون بالا، نارسایی کلیوی و بیماریهای قلبی عروقی در یک مطالعه مقطعی پیمایش]



Rahmani F ; Akbarpour S ; Asgari S
Source: Iranian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the association between diabetes diagnostic categories and the prevalence of hypertension, renal failure, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Iranian adults. Materials and Methods: This study included 15,672 participants aged 30-75 years from the Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Survey of Iran. Diabetes diagnostic categories were classified into three categories: known diabetes (participants who were using glucose lowering medications), confirmed undiagnosed diabetes (fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL and hemoglobin A1C ≥6.5%; among participants not using glucose-lowering medications), unconfirmed undiagnosed diabetes (elevated levels in either of the two aforementioned tests among participants not using glucose-lowering medications), and no-diabetes (individuals who did not fall into any of the above groups). Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association between diabetes diagnostic categories and disease prevalence, using the no-diabetes group as the reference category. Results: The prevalence of diabetes diagnostic categories, including unconfirmed undiagnosed diabetes, confirmed undiagnosed diabetes, and known diabetes, was estimated at 5.7%, 4.2%, and 9.6%, respectively. Among these categories, unconfirmed undiagnosed diabetes and known diabetes were significantly associated with hypertension, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.49 (95% CI: 1.16-1.92) and 1.44 (1.16-1.79), respectively. Additionally, unconfirmed undiagnosed diabetes showed a significant association with cardiovascular disease [1.60(1.15-2.21)], and only known diabetes was associated with renal failure [1.75(1.10-2.79)]. Conclusion: The single-test assessment for undiagnosed confirmed diabetes, based on both fasting blood glucose and HbA1C criteria, was associated with an increased odds of hypertension and CVD. © 2026, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences. All rights reserved.