Marriage within Bloodline: Assessing the Impact of Consanguinity on Type 2 Diabetes in Karachi, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51985/Keywords:
Consanguinity, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Genetic predisposition, Public health.Abstract
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the association between parental consanguinity and complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Pakistani population.
Study design & Setting: A cross- sectional study was carried out on the participants from the medical outpatient department at PNS Shifa hospital Karachi, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus of consanguineous and non-consanguineous family backgrounds from 25th August to 24th October 2025.
Methodology: 423 participants were utilized to collect the information about their demographic data, clinical background, diabetes control indicators, complication status, and treatment strategies in the form of medication and lifestyle interventions. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to analyze the relationship between consanguinity, the onset, severity, and treatment outcomes of diabetes.
Results: Participants born to non- consanguineous parents, 0.6% (1) were suffering from cardiovascular disease; 1.7% (3) had hypertension, 1.1% (2) had a visual problem, and 0.6% (1) were reported to have dyslipidemia. Among the progeny of consanguineous parents, 14.5 %( 35) were suffering from cardiovascular disease, 4.1% (10) suffered from chronic kidney disease, 21.5 %( 52) had hypertension, 38.0% (92) had problems related to vision, and 7.0 %( 17) were reported to have dyslipidemia after being diabetic. There is a strong significant association between diabetes and their complications in the offspring of consanguineous couples after being diagnosed as diabetics (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Clarifying the role of consanguinity in the prevalence and progression of T2DM can promote understanding of genetic susceptibility among high-risk populations and guide culturally sensitive public health practice and genetic counseling policy in Pakistan
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