Trends in Diabetes Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control in Yangon Region, Myanmar, Between 2004 and 2014, Two Cross-Sectional Studies

Abstract

Myanmar is currently facing the burden of non-communicable diseases due to changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns linked to socio-economic development. However, evidence is scarce about changes in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) over time. We aimed to investigate changes in the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of DM from 2004 to 2014, among adults aged 25–74 years, in the Yangon region. Two cross-sectional household-based studies, according to World Health Organization STEPwise approach to surveillance (WHO STEPS) methodology, were conducted in 2004 (n = 4448) and 2014 (n = 1372). The overall age-standardized prevalence of DM was 8.3% (95% CI 6.5–10.6) in 2004 and 10.2% (7.6–13.6) in 2014 (p = 0.296). The DM prevalence increased between the study years among elderly participants only, from 14.6% (11.7–18.1) to 31.9% (21.1–45.0) (p = 0.009). Awareness of having DM increased from 44.3% (39.2, 49.6) to 69.4% (62.9–75.2) (p < 0.001). Among participants who were aware of having DM, the proportion under treatment increased from 55.1% (46.8–63.1) to 68.6% (61.5–74.8) (p = 0.015). There was no change in proportion with controlled DM. Adjusted for age, sex and education, mean fasting plasma glucose levels in 2014 were 0.56 mmol/L (0.26–0.84) higher than in 2004. Preventive measures to halt future increases in DM prevalence and to increase the detection of undiagnosed DM cases are needed.

Physical Activity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients and Non-Diabetes Participants in Yangon, Myanmar: A Case-Control Study Applying the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ-S)

“…23 Furthermore, no previous study measured the level of physical activity using a validated instrument like IPAQ-S in Yangon where the silent epidemic of diabetes is occurring amidst the trendy sedentary lifestyle and increasing motorization. 6,14 That was the reason why we conducted a case-control study in Yangon, performing an accurate measurement of PA and investigating its association with diabetes and risk factor especially age, reported in national STEP survey. 21 We set the eligibility criteria similar to national survey with a strict definition of case and control and being residents of Yangon to specify the study domain.…”

“…5 According to the studies, using the results of the national survey conducted in Myanmar, applying World Health Organization STEPwise approach to surveillance (WHO-STEPS) in 2014, the prevalence of diabetes was 10.5% and impaired glucose tolerance was 19.7% for the adult population aged between 25 and 64 years. 6 The silent epidemic of diabetes is widespread in Myanmar, may bring many other noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular, strokes, disability, and deaths as its complications, resulting in heavy healthcare costs for this low-income country. Yangon Region, the most populated in Myanmar and the former capital is known to have the highest prevalence (18.2%) of diabetes in Myanmar.…”

A cross-sectional study on diabetes epidemiology among people aged 40 years and above in Shenyang, China

“…The diabetic awareness rate among urban residents was higher than that among rural residents (92.8% vs . 68.4%, p < 0.001), which may be due to the limited health knowledge that is received in rural areas 19 , 20 . There is a study revealed that the increases in age and risks of developing hypertension and dyslipidemia, will correspondingly increase the opportunity of receiving disease-related medical education, which will improve diabetic awareness and treatment rates 10 .…”

Effect of Compounds from Moringa oleifera Lam. on in Vitro Non‐Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Model System

“…Liver diseases, mainly due to overdose of rice, are increasing in Myanmar along with the improvement of living standard of the people [58] . More widespread intake of M. oleifera may help the prevention of NAFLD.…”