Diabetes prevalence and associated risk factors in a Northern Kerala community: A Multistage Sampling Approach

Abstract

Introduction Diabetes is a significant metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels, leading to various complications if not properly managed. Understanding these factors is crucial for early identification, effective prevention, and management of diabetes within this community. Our study focused on the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes in Puzhakkatiri, a village in Malappuram district, Kerala, aiming to provide insights into local epidemiological patterns and targeted public health interventions. Methodology The community-based cross-sectional study included 582 participants (?18 years) selected via multistage sampling from Puzhakkattiri Panchayath, Northern Kerala, India. Selected participants were invited to a camp that was held at the Government school in collaboration with the panchayath office, where participants had their BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels measured. Sociodemographic data were collected through interviews, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software, with a p-value of 0.05 or lower indicating statistical significance. Results The study, with participants having a mean age of 39.13 ± 12.56 years, found a diabetes prevalence of 30% and an impaired glucose tolerance prevalence of 47.4%. Higher diabetes rates were observed among individuals over 40 years (37.2%), those divorced/widowed/separated (46.5%), those with lower education levels (40%), those in unskilled occupations (34.4%), and those with overweight BMI (33%) or high waist-to-hip ratios (34.5%). Significant associations (p-value<0.05) were found between diabetes prevalence and age (p=0.0001) , marital status (p=0.001), education level (p=0.001), occupation (p=0.0001), family type (p=0.0003), BMI (p=0.029), and waist-to-hip ratio (p=0.043). Conclusion Our study revealed a high prevalence of diabetes and IGT among participants, highlighting a significant burden of impaired glucose regulation within the population. Key risk factors identified include age over 40, certain marital statuses, lower education levels, unskilled occupations, specific family living arrangements, being overweight, and having a high waist-to-hip ratio.

Keywords

• diabetes, Kerala, diabetes prevalence, diabetes complication, prediabetes, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, family adoption program, Malappuram