PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kong, Alberta S.
AU  - Williams, Robert L.
AU  - Smith, Melissa
AU  - Sussman, Andrew L.
AU  - Skipper, Betty
AU  - Hsi, Andrew C.
AU  - Rhyne, Robert L.
ED  - ,
TI  - Acanthosis Nigricans and Diabetes Risk Factors: Prevalence in Young Persons Seen in Southwestern US Primary Care Practices
AID  - 10.1370/afm.678
DP  - 2007 May 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 202--208
VI  - 5
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/5/3/202.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/5/3/202.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2007 May 01; 5
AB  - PURPOSE Evidence shows acanthosis nigricans is often associated with hyperinsulinemia and may indicate increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of acanthosis nigricans with type 2 diabetes risk factors and disease in young persons. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Research in Outpatient Settings Network, a practice-based research network in southwestern US communities. Participating clinicians (N = 96) collected data on children and young adults aged 7 to 39 years seen during a 2-week sampling period. The main outcomes were the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans, type 2 diabetes risk factors (ethnicity, family history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, overweight/obesity), type 2 diabetes, and the relationships among these. RESULTS Among 1,133 patients sampled, risk factors for type 2 diabetes were common: 69% had a family history of the disease; 3% of children (aged 7 to 19 years) and 12% of adults had hypertension; 43% of children and 73% of adults were overweight or obese; and 80% were members of ethnic minorities. Acanthosis nigricans was found in 17% of children and 21% of adults. Among children and adults alike, the more type 2 diabetes risk factors that were present, the higher the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (P <.001). The prevalence ratio for type 2 diabetes in patients with acanthosis nigricans was 1.97 (95% confidence interval, 1.18–3.27; P = .01) after controlling for age, body mass index, and the number of type 2 diabetes risk factors. Clinicians reported that the identification of acanthosis nigricans frequently led to discussions about lifestyle modification for decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Patients with acanthosis nigricans are likely to have multiple risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Acanthosis nigricans may be an independent risk factor for this disease. Detection of acanthosis nigricans may help clinicians more rapidly identify high-risk individuals for diabetes counseling.