Diabetes Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Women in a Rural District of Nepal Using HbA1c as a Diagnostic Tool: A Population-Based Study

Chandra Yogal, Sunila Shakya, Biraj Karmarcharya, Rajendra Koju, Astrid Kamilla Stunes, Mats Peder Mosti, Miriam K. Gustafsson, Bjørn Olav Åsvold, Berit Schei and Unni Syversen
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Chandra Yogal: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Sunila Shakya: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Biraj Karmarcharya: Department of Community Program, Kathmandu University School of Medical Science, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Rajendra Koju: Department of Internal Medicine, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Astrid Kamilla Stunes: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Mats Peder Mosti: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Miriam K. Gustafsson: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Bjørn Olav Åsvold: K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Berit Schei: Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Unni Syversen: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Given the scarcity of data on diabetes prevalence and associated risk factors among women in rural Nepal, we aimed to examine this, using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a diagnostic tool. A cross-sectional survey addressing reproductive health and non-communicable diseases was conducted in 2012–2013 among non-pregnant, married women in Bolde, a rural district of Nepal. HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) was used as diagnostic criterion for diabetes, a cut-off of 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) was used to increase the specificity. HbA1c was measured in 757 women (17–86 years). The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 13.5% and 38.5%, respectively. When using 7.0% as a cut-off, the prevalence of diabetes was 5.8%. Aging, intake of instant noodles and milk and vegetarian food (ns) were associated with increased risk for diabetes. Waist circumference was higher among women with diabetes, although not significant. The women were uneducated (87.6%), and only 12% had heard about diabetes. In conclusion, we observed a higher prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes than anticipated among rural, Nepalese women. The increased risk was mainly attributed to dietary factors. In contrast to most previous studies in Nepal, we used HbA1c as diagnostic criterion.

Keywords: diabetes; HbA1c; risk factors; instant noodles; women; rural; Nepal; prevalence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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