Epidemiol Health.  2020;42(1):e2020065. 10.4178/epih.e2020065.

Diabetes and prediabetes prevalence among young and middle-aged adults in India, with an analysis of geographic differences: findings from the National Family Health Survey

• Chandrupatla SG
• Khalid I
• Muthuluri T
• Dantala S
• Tavares M

• KMID: 2512771
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2020065

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to approximate the prevalence of hyperglycemia in India.
METHODS
The study was conducted using the Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16 (also known as the National Family Health Survey-4), which surveyed 811,808 individuals using a stratified, multistage, cluster sampling design. This cross-sectional survey recorded socio-demographic and anthropometric data, including blood glucose levels, of adults aged 18 years to 54 years.
RESULTS
The final analysis included 718,597 individuals, of whom 49.90% (weighted) were males. The overall prevalence of diabetes was 6.65% and that of prediabetes was 5.57%. A positive association was seen with urban residence, geographic region, sex, age, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and hypertension. Approximately two-thirds of individuals with diabetes lived in urban areas, and about half of the urban population was considered overweight/obese. South India showed a higher prevalence of diabetes (prevalence ratio, 2.01; p<0.001) than northern India.
CONCLUSIONS
Hyperglycemia (diabetes and prediabetes) has a high prevalence in India and is a major public health issue. Diabetes is unevenly distributed based on geographic location and urbanization. Prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies should consider this uneven distribution of diabetes.

Keyword

Diabetes prevalence; Body mass index; Obesity Demographic and Health Survey; India