The prevalence of undiagnosed hyperglycemia in middle-aged and older adults and its associated risk factors in Ba Vi district, Viet Nam

Abstract

A sign of diabetes is high blood sugar levels, which is known or referred to as hyperglycemia. Many individuals develop type 2 diabetes covertly because the symptoms of hyperglycemia are not typically present until the glucose levels are very high. The illness negatively impacts health even before its discovery. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of hyperglycemia and some risk factors associated with it in Viet Nam – which, in the last decade, has been a rapidly urbanized country. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study in nine communes in Ba Vi district, a mixed urban and rural area, which is outside Ha Noi's capital. The study was conducted within a period of two months, in 2021. The researchers recruited 1,814 participants over the age of 40 using a purposive and convenient sampling technique. In addition to conducting in-person interviews, the researchers measured the participant's height, weight, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, and venous blood sampling. Although the multivariate regression analysis can identify the factors associated with hyperglycemia, descriptive statistics were applied to demonstrate the status of high blood sugar levels. All participants' crude prevalence of intermediate hyperglycemia was 48.9% (95% CI, 46.6-51.2), and hyperglycemia was 10% (95% CI: 8.7-11.5). The standardized-age prevalence of intermediate hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia was 47.8% (95% CI: 44.6-50.9) and 9.2% (95% CI: 7.9-10.6), respectively. Furthermore, the increase in cases of high blood sugar levels in individuals with normal BMI, overweight and obese is a more notable trend. The findings of this study indicate that the incidence of hyperglycemia increases with the BMI as the normal, overweight, and obese groups were 9.2% (95% CI: 7.4-11.1), 10.8% (95% CI: 7.9-13.9) and 14.3% (95% CI: 10.4-18.7), respectively. In addition, individuals with high blood pressure are more likely to have high blood sugar levels than those with normal blood pressure. The prevalence of hyperglycemia in participants with high blood pressure was 14.2% (95% CI: 11.7-16.6), while for participants with standard blood pressure recorded only 7.8% (95% CI: 6.2-9.6). The multivariate regression model exhibits that alcohol users were 1.39 times more likely than non-drinkers, to have increased blood sugar levels (95% CI: 1.03-1.86). In comparison to the low-weight group, those with normal BMI, those who were overweight, and those who were obese had blood sugar levels that were higher (1.57, 1.55, and 1.76 times, respectively). Individuals with large waists were 1.33 times more likely to have blood sugar levels ≥5.6 mmol/l as opposed to those with a regular waist circumference (95% CI: 1.03-1.72). At age 40 and older, a significantly higher percentage of individuals, as opposed to the general population, have intermediate hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia. Multiple factors may cause the participants of the study to have abnormal blood sugar levels. Society conditions, behavioral characteristics, and biological factors are also related to a high blood glucose status in Ba Vi district, Viet Nam. There is a need for governments to present public health solutions focusing on the education of health so that individuals can alter their behavioral patterns and lower their risk of developing diabetes or other common NCDs in their middle life. Keywords: Diabetes, pre-diabetes, hyperglycemia, high blood sugar levels.