Diabetes in a Disaster Prone Coastal Population of Bangladesh

1.1.Background and aims: A substantial number of studies estimated the prevalence of diabetes in different ethnic groups and geographical sites in Bangladesh. There was no such report on the coastal population. This study addressed the prevalence of diabetes and to determine the diabetes related risks among the coastal people. 1.2.Methods:This study was conducted in six coastal districts (Barisal, Borguna, Vola, Pirojpur, Potuakhali and Jhalukathi) at 32 different coastal communities. All people over 18y were considered eligible. Social, clinical and family history was taken. Heights, weight, waist- and hip-girth were measured. Resting blood pressure was recorded. Fasting blood glucose and lipids were assessed. 1.3.Results:The crude prevalence of T2DM of both sexes was 8.8% [95% CI, 8.15 – 9.45] and IFG was 10.0% [95% CI 9.31 – 10.69].Compared with the poor the middle (OR= 1.36, CI, 1.18 – 1.57) and the rich classes (OR=1.80, CI, 1.50 – 2.16) had excess risk for diabetes. The participants with known family history of diabetes had higher risk (OR= 2.90, CI, 2.54 – 3.31) than those with negative or unknown history. Based on logistic regressions of different models, irrespective of sex, higher social class of known diabetic family and higher quartiles of age, BMI, WHR and WHtR were proved to be the independent risk factors for diabetes. 1.4.Conclusions:The coastal population showed higher prevalence than the Bangladeshi rural and indigenous people. The rich social class, family history of diabetes and advancing age were the independent risk factors for developing diabetes. Both general and central obesity were found to have equal risk. Further study may be undertaken to confirm our study findings and to determine other unexplored risks like less physical activities, unhealthy dietary habit or psychosocial stress rendering the coastal people more susceptible to metabolic disorder and diabetes.