The Prevalence and Management of Diabetes in Thai Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE -The aim of this study was to determine in Thai adults aged Ն35 years the prevalence and management of diabetes and the associations of diabetes with cardiovascular risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The InternationalCollaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia was a complex sample survey. Data from a structured questionnaire, brief physical examination, and blood sample were collected from 5,105 individuals aged Ն35 years (response rate 68%). Population estimates were calculated by applying sampling weights derived from the 2000 Thai census.RESULTS -The estimated national prevalence of diabetes in Thai adults was 9.6% (2.4 million people), which included 4.8% previously diagnosed and 4.8% newly diagnosed. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 5.4% (1.4 million people). Diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and impaired fasting glucose were associated with greater age, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and serum creatinine levels. The majority of individuals with diagnosed diabetes had received dietary or other behavioral advice, and 82% were taking oral hypoglycemic therapy. Blood pressure-lowering therapy was provided to 67% of diagnosed diabetic patients with concomitant hypertension.CONCLUSIONS -Diabetes is common in Thailand, but one-half of all cases are undiagnosed. Because diagnosed diabetes is likely to be treated with proven, low-cost, preventive therapies such as glucose lowering and blood pressure lowering, initiatives that increased diagnosis rates would be expected to produce substantial health benefits in Thailand.

A Risk Score for Predicting Incident Diabetes in the Thai Population

“…Prevalence rates in the developing world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, are already high and expected to rise more quickly than elsewhere. In Thailand, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among the population aged Յ35 years was 9.6% in 2001, an increase of 20% over a period of 5 years (2). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in Thailand (3), and individuals with diabetes have a two to fourfold greater risk of developing CVD than those without (4).…”

Limb Salvage Surgery and Wound Treatment in the Establishment of Globally Standardized Diabetes, Amputation, and Limb Salvage Centers to Address Lower Extremity Morbidity and Mortality in Thailand

“…34 In 2000, a study reported that diabetes was common in Thailand. 35 By studying Thai adults 35 years of age and older in relation to the prevalence and management of diabetes and the associations of diabetes with cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers found that the estimated national prevalence of diabetes in Thai adults was 9.6% (2.4 million people), which included 4.8% previously diagnosed and 4.8% newly diagnosed. Moreover, half of all cases are undiagnosed.…”

“…Moreover, half of all cases are undiagnosed. 35 Based on these figures, there is, conservatively, a diabetes rate of 10% in the total population, or approximately 6.3 million people with diabetes. If one considers the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers at 25% in a lifetime, 19 then the point prevalence of diabetes would be approximately 15.8 million people.…”

Beraprost Sodium for Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Thammasat University Hospital

“…1) Chronic diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most common problems, with increased risk of lower limb amputation up to 22.1% 2) despite many wound treatment strategies.…”