Prevalence and incidence of prediabetes in Latin America. A systematic review and meta-analysis

The systematic review included studies published between 1992 and 2023, spanning more than three decades of research on prediabetes in nine Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and VenezuelaWhile some recent studies report higher prevalences (e.g., Souza Marques dos Santos 2020 and Lazo-Porras 2020 reporting >30%) compared to earlier studies (e.g., Pablo Aschner 1992 and Bosi 2009 reporting <10%), these differences cannot be interpreted as direct evidence of temporal trendsOur meta-analysis revealed substantial variations: WHO criteria showed the lowest prevalence at 11% (95% CI: 5-18%), followed by fasting glucose at 18% (95% CI: 10-27%), postprandial glucose at 20% (95% CI: 3-46%), and HbA1c showing the highest at 32% (95% CI: 21-52%).Factors such as urbanization, changes in dietary patterns, sedentarism, and socioeconomic disparities, which vary significantly within the region, likely contribute to these differences and should be considered in the design of interventions.