Age and gender distribution of diabetes incidence in St Lucia

The Government of St Lucia performed a nation-wide screening program for diabetes and hypertension from May through December 2006. Nearly 31,000 St Lucians were screened by the program. After keypunch of the data sheets, analysis was performed using SAS. For participants that identified themselves as not having, or been diagnosed with, diabetes, incidence rates were developed adusting for age and gender. Rates were developed using 2005 estimates for population, the most recent currently available from the Government of St Lucia. The weighted annual incidence calculated from these data proved to be substantially higher than any published country-wide rates that could be found by the authors, world-wide. Several potential sources of bias in the calculated incidence rates were estimated. They failed to substantially diminish the observed incidence. Several sources of corroborative information (diabetes complication rates) were evaluated and found to be consistent with the estimated high incidence of diabetes in St Lucia. The authors discuss steps underway in St Lucia to more precisely document the diabetes incidence. The authors also discuss implications for a very high incidence of diabetes, as they might affect the community of nations in the Caribbean Basin.