title: Variation in the prevalence, awareness, and control of diabetes in a multiethnic population: a nationwide population study in Malaysia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between different ethnic groups and the prevalence, awareness, and control of diabetes in Malaysia. A population-based cross-sectional study using multistage sampling was conducted in Malaysia. Diabetes is defined as having a fasting blood glucose > or =7 mmol/L or a self-reported diabetic on treatment. Among the 7683 respondents aged > or =30 years, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 15.2% (95% CI = 14.1, 16.4). Multivariate analysis showed that compared with Malays, Chinese had lower odds (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.71; 95% CI = 0.56, 0.91) and Indians had higher odds of having diabetes (aOR 1.54; 95% CI = 1.20, 1.98). The odds of diabetes increased with age, family history of diabetes, body mass index, and lower education levels. Among those with diabetes mellitus, 45.0% were aware and 42.7% were under treatment. Among treated diabetics, 25.1% had their fasting blood sugar under control. There is a significant association between prevalence of diabetes and different ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. srampal@ummc.edu.my
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rampal
authors.forename: Lekhraj
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampal
authors.forename: Ramlee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahmat
authors.forename: Azhar Md
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zain
authors.forename: Yee Guan
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Mafauzy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors