Sex‐Specific Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases Among Respondents From Wealthier Households in Bangladesh

Background Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes, have emerged as a major global public health concern in low‐ and middle‐income countries like Bangladesh. In light of this, the current study aims to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with NCDs among Bangladeshi men and women, with a particular focus on those from wealthier households, to gain a deeper understanding of NCD risk in a rapidly evolving health landscape. Methods Data were used from the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022. A total of 2729 men and 3441 women from wealthier households were included in the analysis. NCD status was defined as the presence of hypertension, diabetes, or both, and the test of independence was used to assess associations between NCDs and background characteristics. Separate binary logistic regression models for both men and women were employed to estimate the effects of sociodemographic factors on NCDs. Results This study estimated a higher prevalence rate of NCDs among women (41.3%) compared to men (37.4%). Both adult men and women had a higher association with NCDs, with the effect more noticeable among the age groups 30–44, 45–59, and 60+ years. Secondary and higher levels of education were less likely associated with NCDs among women, whereas men with higher levels of education had an increased association with NCDs. Overweight (aOR = 1.80) and obese (aOR = 4.08) men had a higher likelihood of association with NCDs with respect to normal body mass index (BMI), and a similar trend was found among overweight (aOR = 1.73) and obese (aOR = 3.00) women. Conclusion This study shed light on the sex‐specific higher association with NCDs among rich Bangladeshi people. Increased age and higher BMI are associated with the development of NCDs among both men and women.