Awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes in Bangladesh: a nationwide population-based study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 2; p. e0118365
• Main Authors: Rahman, Md Shafiur, Akter, Shamima, Abe, Sarah Krull, Islam, Md Rafiqul, Mondal, Md Nazrul Islam, Rahman, J A M Shoquilur, Rahman, Md Mizanur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18-02-2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Age; Aged; Analysis; Bangladesh - epidemiology; Biomarkers; Blood glucose; Blood pressure; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographics; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes therapy; Economic conditions; Epidemiology; Female; Gender differences; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health risks; Health Surveys; Households; Humans; Low income groups; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - epidemiology; Population; Population studies; Population-based studies; Prevalence; Public health; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Surveys; Survival analysis; Systematic review; Womens health; Bangladesh; United States > US; Sri Lanka; China; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118365

To examine awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus among the adult population in Bangladesh.
The study used data from the 2011 nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). The BDHS sample is comprised of 7,786 adults aged 35 years or older. The primary outcome variables were fasting blood glucose, diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for diabetes awareness.
Overall, age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 9.2%. Among subjects with diabetes, 41.2% were aware of their condition, 36.9% were treated, and 14.2% controlled their condition. A significant inequality in diabetes management was found from poor to wealthy households: 18.2% to 63.2% (awareness), 15.8% to 56.6% (treatment), and 8.2% to 18.4% (control). Multilevel models suggested that participants who had a lower education and lower economic condition were less likely to be aware of their diabetes. Poor management was observed among non-educated, low-income groups, and those who lived in the northwestern region.
Diabetes has become a national health concern in Bangladesh; however, treatment and control are quite low. Improving detection, awareness, and treatment strategies is urgently needed to prevent the growing burden associated with diabetes.