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

Objective Diabetes is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Southeast Asia. We determined the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Methods A national cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted in 2013. The sample comprised 2492 individuals aged 18-64 years (59.3% females; mean age 38.7 years, SD = 12.8) from Lao PDR. We followed the WHO STEPS method: step 1, questionnaire interview; step 2, anthropometric and Blood Pressure (BP) measurements; and step 3, biochemistry tests. Multinominal logistic regression was used to investigate the determinants of pre-diabetes and diabetes (fasting plasma glucose levels >= 7.0 mmol/L; or using insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs; or having a history of diagnosis of diabetes). Results 5.7% of the population had diabetes, 4.7% of men and 6.4% of women, and 2.3% had pre-diabetes, 1.8% of men and 2.6% of women. Only 14.1% of the population sample indicated that they had ever their blood glucose measured by a health-care worker. This was higher in urban (20.9%) than rural (10.9%) dwellers (P < 0.001), and among female (16.6%) than male (10.5%) participants (P < 0.001). Among those with diabetes, 58.1% were aware of their diabetes status, 40.3% were taking treatment and 10.9% had controlled diabetes. The factor independently associated with impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) or pre-diabetes was central obesity (Adjusted Relative Risk Ratio-ARRR: 3.92, Confidence Interval-CI: 1.89, 8.14) but none of the other health (general body weight, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, substance use, hypertension and cholesterol) and sociodemographic (age, sex, education, employment status, marital status, ethno-linguistic group and residence status) variables. Factors independently associated with diabetes were older age (ARRR: 5.12, CI: 1.55, 10.20), central obesity (ARRR: 2.15, CI: 1.16, 4.00), low or moderate physical activity (ARRR: 0.75, CI: 0.60, 0.93), having hypertension (ARRR: 1.68, CI: 1.01, 2.83), and dyslipidaemia (ARRR: 1.75, CI: 1.08, 2.81). Conclusion A public health response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.