Prevalence of diabetes in a suburban population of Bangladesh

To determine the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, 6847 subjects of age 15 years or older, were investigated in a suburban population in Bangladesh. Pasting and post-prandial (capillary) blood glucose (2-hPG) was estimated. According to WHO criteria the crude prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 7.5% and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was 4.1%. The age standardized (30-64 years) prevalence of IGT was 7.7% with 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.96-8.44 and NIDDM was 4.5%, CI 3.94-5.12. Compared with the younger subjects the older subjects (< 40 vs. greater than or equal to 40 years) showed significant association with IGT chi(2), 65.9; P < 0.001) and NIDDM (chi(2), 92.0; P < 0.001). Higher BMI (less than or equal to 22.0 vs. > 22.1) was also significantly associated with IGT (chi(2), 16.6; P < 0.001) and NIDDM (chi(2), 83.9; P < 0.001). The higher BMI had stronger association with NIDDM than with IGT. Lower height showed significant association only with NIDDM. The logistic regression analyses also showed that increased age, higher BMI and short stature were independent risks for NIDDM. The study showed an increased prevalence of IGT and NIDDM among the suburban population of Bangladesh and the excess risk was observed with increased age, higher BMI and short stature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.