Cooperación transfronteriza en investigación sobre diabetes mellitus tipo 2: México-Estados Unidos

objective: to describe and analyze, utilizing a case study approach, the u.s.- mexico border diabetes prevention and control project, a health research cooperation initiative incorporating the participation of federal, state, and local institutions of both countries. methods: a model of equal representation, participation, consensus, and shared leadership was used, with the participation of more than 130 institutions. a sample of 4 020 people over 18 years of age was obtained by a random, multistage, stratified, clustered design. a questionnaire about diabetes mellitus type 2 (dm2) and health was applied. the statistical analysis took into account the design effect. results: the prevalence of diagnosed dm2 was 14.9% (95% confidence interval [95% ci]: 12.5-17.6) and the prevalence of diagnosed dm2 adjusted by age was 19.5% (95% ci: 16.8-22.6) on the mexican side of the border and 16.1% (ic95%: 13.5-19.2) on the u.s. border side. there were differences between the dm2 prevalence and risk factors along the border. conclusions: the u.s.-mexico border diabetes prevention and control project allowed the border zone between the two countries to be considered, for the first time ever, as a unit for epidemiological research. a shared understanding among all participating institutions and entities of sociopolitical structures and procedures is required for effective border health cooperation initiatives.