Prevalence of Diabetes and Relationship with Socioeconomic Status in the Thai Population: National Health Examination Survey, 2004–2014

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence and trend of diabetes, related glycemic control, and influential socioeconomic (SES) factors in the Thai population aged ≥20 years during 2004–2014. Methods Data from the Thai National Health Examination Survey 2004, 2009, and 2014 were used. Age-adjusted prevalence was calculated, and the associations of education levels with prevalence of diabetes and glycemic control were examined using logistic regression. Results Age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased from 7.7% in 2004 to 7.8% in 2009 and 9.9% in 2014 (8.9% among men and 10.8% among women). Proportions of undiagnosed diabetes were slightly decreased but remained high in 2014 (51.2% for men and 41.3% for women). Diabetes prevalence was higher among those with primary education in both sexes; however, undiagnosed diabetes was higher among women with secondary and university educations. The percentages of those treated and controlled slightly improved among men (45.9%) but not among women (36.4%). Unmet glycemic control was also higher among women with secondary education levels and among men with university-level educations. Conclusions Epidemic diabetes continues to grow in the Thai population, particularly in individuals with lower educational attainment. Measures to detect new cases and strengthen glycemic control should be scaled up.

Prevalence and social and health determinants of pre‐diabetes and diabetes among adults in Laos: a cross‐sectional national population‐based survey, 2013

“…This study found a high proportion of undiagnosed diabetes (41.9%), similar to findings among women in Thailand (41.3%) , but generally better than in China (69.8%) , Guinea (56%) , and Uganda (48.9%) . The proportion of diabetics receiving treatment in this study (40.3%) was higher than in China (25.8%) , but only 26.4% of those treated had adequate glycaemic control, vs .…”

“…The lower rate of diabetes found Laos compared to its neighbour Thailand may be explained by a younger age structure, lesser degree of urbanization and less extensive lifestyle change (e.g., still more physically active and lower rate of obesity) in Laos compared to Thailand [6]. This study found a high proportion of undiagnosed diabetes (41.9%), similar to findings among women in Thailand (41.3%) [6], but generally better than in China (69.8%) [7], Guinea (56%) [9], and Uganda (48.9%) [11]. The proportion of diabetics receiving treatment in this study (40.3%) was higher than in China (25.8%) [7], but only 26.4% of those treated had adequate glycaemic control, vs. 39.7% in China [7].…”

“…In this first nationally representative population-based survey on diabetes in Lao PDR, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in adults (18-64 years) was 5.7% (pre-diabetes 2.3%) in 2013, which is lower than the global age-standardised diabetes prevalence (9.0% in men and 7.9% in women) [5], in China (11.6%) [7], and in Thailand (9.9%) [6], but similar to the prevalence in Guinea (5.7%) [9] and Malawi (5.6%) [10] and higher than in Ethiopia (3.3%) [8] and in Uganda 1.4% [11]. The lower rate of diabetes found Laos compared to its neighbour Thailand may be explained by a younger age structure, lesser degree of urbanization and less extensive lifestyle change (e.g., still more physically active and lower rate of obesity) in Laos compared to Thailand [6]. This study found a high proportion of undiagnosed diabetes (41.9%), similar to findings among women in Thailand (41.3%) [6], but generally better than in China (69.8%) [7], Guinea (56%) [9], and Uganda (48.9%) [11].…”

Universal coverage but unmet need: National and regional estimates of attrition across the diabetes care continuum in Thailand

“…All provincial laboratories were standardized to the central laboratory at the Department of Medical Service, Ministry of Public Health. In 2014, there were a total of 22,095 participants aged �20 years, and 8.8% adults had available blood samples [7].…”

“…By disease burden, diabetes was the leading cause for men, and the seventh cause for women in 2014 [6]. The age adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased from eight to ten percent from 2004 to 2014 in Thailand [7].…”