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Diabetes, prediabetes prevalence high in Chinese adults
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The overall prevalence of diabetes among adults in China reached nearly 11%, and prevalence of prediabetes reached nearly 36% in 2013, according to nationally representative survey results from that country.
“The study has yielded several findings about the prevalence and ethnic variation of diabetes among the major minorities in China,” the researchers wrote.
Linhong Wang, PhD, of the National Center for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases Control and Prevention at the Chinese CDC, and colleagues evaluated data from 170,287 respondents (mean age, 43.5 years; mean BMI, 24 kg/m2; 57% women) to a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2013 across mainland China to determine prevalence and ethnic variation of diabetes and prediabetes.
The estimated overall standardized prevalence of total diabetes was 10.9% (10.2% in women; 11.7% in men). Older adults (P < .001), men (P < .001), urban residents (P < .001), participants living in economically developed areas (P = .003) and participants with overweight or obesity (P < .001) had a higher prevalence of diabetes compared with their counterparts.
In the overall population, the estimated prevalence of prediabetes was 35.7% (35% in women; 36.4% in men). Older adults compared with younger (P < .001), participants with overweight or obesity compared with normal weight (P < .001) and participants living in rural areas compared with urban areas (P = .02) had a higher prevalence of prediabetes.
Overall, 36.5% of participants were aware of their diabetes condition; more women (39.8%) were aware compared with men (33.5%). Thirty-two percent of participants with diabetes were receiving antidiabetic medications, and among those treated, 49.2% had HbA1c levels less than 7%. Older adults compared with younger (P < .001), women compared with men (P < .001) and urban residents compared with those in other areas (P < .001) were more likely to be aware of their diabetes status and receiving treatment. HbA1c control of less than 7% was more likely in younger participants compared with older participants (P = .03) and urban residents compared with rural residents (P < .001).
The crude prevalence of total diabetes was highest among ethnic Han participants (14.7%) compared with other major minority ethnic groups; Tibetan (4.3%) and Muslim participants (10.6%) had the lowest prevalence (P < .001 compared with Han participants).
The prevalence of prediabetes was highest in ethnic Manchu participants (43.4%), followed by Zhuang (42.1%), Uyghur (39.4%), Han (38.8%), Muslim (31.9%) and Tibetan participants (31.3%).
“The prevalence of diabetes, at 10.9%, was only slightly lower than the prevalence of total diabetes in the U.S. population (12% to 14%) in 2011-2012, although the mean BMI was still much lower than that of the U.S. population (24 [kg/m2] vs. 28.7 [kg/m2]),” the researchers wrote. “The prevalence of diabetes was much higher in overweight BMI categories in this study than in the U.S. population (15.4% vs. 8%-9%). This was consistent with the finding that Asians may have a higher risk of developing diabetes at a given BMI.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosures: Wang reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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