Frequency of Diabetes Mellitus andHypertension among Physicians Working inSelected Medical Colleges inChattogram, Bangladesh

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Among 284 medical college physicians, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were prevalent, with each 5-year age increase raising odds of diabetes and hypertension.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension (n=284). Intervention: Increasing age (per 5-year increase). Primary outcome: Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (22.5%) and Hypertension (22.9%), and multivariable association of age with Diabetes Mellitus (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.34-1.85, p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Approximately one in five medical college physicians in Chattogram, Bangladesh, has diabetes mellitus (22.5%) or hypertension (22.9%), with diabetes independently associated with older age, smoking, sedentary activity, and stress. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the frequency of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and identify their associated factors among physicians working in medical colleges.

Debojit Chowdhury; Md Shahidul Islam; Shishir Nath Ron; Zhilik Das; Raktim Chowdhury Turja; Kazi Bayejid Hossain; Mohammed Zaowed Hossain; Iftekhar Nizhum; Riaz Uddind; Jahin Hasnat Fahim; Sidratul Muntaha; Debayan Bera; Piyush Jamwa; Md Monir Uddin; Soumik Mazumder; Zulfiker Momin Rafi; Sawda Islam; Tonmoy Dey; Puja Mazumder; Khurshed Alam; Mohammad Jalal Uddin; Rajat Sankar Roy Biswas

doi:10.3329/cmoshmcj.v25i2.94000

Key result

Aging links to ~58% higher diabetes odds per 5 years among physicians.

OR 1.58
95% CI 1.34-1.85
P<0.001
n=284

Why the study?

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are important occupational-health concerns among physicians due to prolonged sitting, irregular schedules, psychological stress, and limited preventive care, warranting assessment of their frequency and associated factors among physicians in selected Bangladeshi medical colleges.

Key Points

To assess the frequency of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and identify their associated factors among physicians working in medical colleges.
Multicentre cross-sectional study conducted from June to December 2025 across seven selected medical colleges in Bangladesh (N=284).
Collected sociodemographic, professional, clinical, family-history, and behavioural data using structured questionnaires alongside physical measurements of blood pressure, random capillary blood glucose, height, and weight.
Identified independent predictors using multivariable logistic regression models reporting adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Among 284 physicians, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 22.5% (n=64) and hypertension in 22.9% (n=65), with 60.9% reporting sedentary activity and 58.8% presenting with overweight or obesity.
Factors independently associated with diabetes mellitus included increasing age (AOR per 5 years 1.58, 95% CI 1.34–1.85), smoking (AOR 5.59, 95% CI 2.46–12.70), sedentary activity (AOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.24–5.86), and reported stress (AOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.40–5.91).
Increasing age was the only variable that remained significantly associated with hypertension (AOR per 5 years 1.33, 95% CI 1.16–1.53).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=284)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

P

Population

284 registered physicians (mean age 40.18 years, 45.1% female) aged ≥25 years working at seven medical colleges in Chattogram, Bangladesh, evaluated in a cross-sectional survey.

O

Outcome

Frequency of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Hypertension (HTN) and their associated sociodemographic, professional, clinical, and behavioural factors

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 1.58 (95% CI 1.34–1.85)

p-value: p=<0.001

Approximately one in five physicians in selected Bangladeshi medical colleges had diabetes mellitus or hypertension, highlighting a substantial burden of cardiovascular risk factors including sedentary activity and overweight/obesity among healthcare providers.

Limitations

Cross-sectional design prevents temporal or causal inference
Selection and non-response bias as only 284 of the calculated sample of 384 were enrolled from selected medical colleges
Diabetes mellitus and hypertension status depended partly on recorded diagnosis and treatment history rather than confirmatory diagnostic testing
Single-visit blood-pressure reading and random capillary glucose measurement could not provide reliable assessment of disease control
Self-reported exposures may be affected by recall or social-desirability bias
Residual confounding due to unmeasured variables such as waist circumference, diet quantity, sleep, night duty, workload, smoking dose, and HbA1c

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

High DM/HTN prevalence among physicians may support targeted screening; cross-sectional data leaves open causality and generalizability.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Hypertension (HTN) are important occupational-health concerns among physicians, whose work may involve prolonged sitting, irregular schedules, psychological stress, and limited opportunity for preventive care. This study assessed the frequency of DM and HTN and their associated factors among physicians working in selected medical colleges in Bangladesh. Materials and methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2025 among 284 physicians from seven selected medical colleges. Sociodemographic, professional, clinical, treatment, family-history and behavioural data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire, with blood pressure, random capillary blood glucose, height, and weight recorded. Separate multivariable logistic regression models identified factors associated with DM and HTN, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) and p values were reported. Results: Among 284 physicians (Mean age 40.18 ± 10.64 years; 54.9% male), 64 (22.5%) had DM and 65 (22.9%) had HTN. Sedentary physical activity was reported by 60.9%, overweight or obesity was present in 58.8% and current or former smoking in 17.6%. For DM, increasing age (AOR per 5 years 1.58, 95% CI 1.34–1.85), smoking (AOR 5.59, 95% CI 2.46–12.70) sedentary activity (AOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.24–5.86) and reported stress (AOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.40–5.91) were independently associated with higher odds. For HTN, only increasing age remained statistically significant (AOR per 5 years 1.33, 95% CI 1.16–1.53). Conclusion: Approximately one in five physicians had DM or HTN, with a substantial burden of sedentary activity and excess body weight. Confidential periodic screening and institutionally supported programmes addressing physical activity, smoking, stress, healthy diet and continuity of care are warranted Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.25 (2); July 2026; Page 80-86

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Chowdhury et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension (n=284). Increasing age (per 5-year increase) was evaluated on Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (22.5%) and Hypertension (22.9%), and multivariable association of age with Diabetes Mellitus (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.34-1.85, p=<0.001). Among 284 medical college physicians, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were prevalent, with each 5-year age increase raising odds of diabetes and hypertension.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aed6e443dd5ffb8e184cd03 https://doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v25i2.94000

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Frequency of Diabetes Mellitus andHypertension among Physicians Working inSelected Medical Colleges inChattogram, Bangladesh

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Frequency of Diabetes Mellitus andHypertension among Physicians Working inSelected Medical Colleges inChattogram, Bangladesh

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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