title: Diabetes mellitus prevalence is increasing in South Asians but is stable in Chinese living in Singapore and Mauritius.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asia is experiencing a type 2 diabetes epidemic, but prevalence differs by ethnicity and level of socioeconomic development. Singapore and Mauritius have implemented comprehensive campaigns to address this public health problem. We compared diabetes and obesity prevalence trends among Chinese and South Asians living in Singapore and Mauritius to determine the contribution of ethnicity and economic development to diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-specific data from serial national population-based surveys in Singapore and Mauritius between 1987 and 2010 were used to estimate age-standardized diabetes and obesity prevalence. Modified Breslow-Cox proportional hazard models were used to obtain rate ratios for diabetes risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Singapore, the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes remained stable for Chinese (men: 14% in 1992, 13% in 2010; women: 12% in 1992, 10% in 2010), but increases were observed for South Asians (men: 20% in 1992, 26% in 2010; women: 18% in 1992, 20% in 2010). There were similar patterns in Mauritius. In both countries, obesity prevalence trends were stable for Chinese women, but increased for Chinese men and South Asians. Associations between obesity and diabetes were stronger in Chinese than South Asians regardless of country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite different socioeconomic settings in Singapore and Mauritius, we observed rising diabetes prevalence among South Asians but stable prevalence in Chinese in both countries. This provides further evidence that ethnicity contributes to the development of diabetes, and that there should be an increased emphasis on future prevention strategies targeting South Asian populations in these countries.
authors: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Kristin H X
authors: KHX
authors: Tan
authors: Population Health Research Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors: Elizabeth L M
authors: ELM
authors: Barr
authors: Population Health Research Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Vira
authors: V
authors: Koshkina
authors: Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Public Health Group, Ministry of Health Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Ma
authors: Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion Division, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Port Louis, Mauritius.
authors: Sudhir
authors: S
authors: Kowlessur
authors: Population Health Research Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Dianna J
authors: DJ
authors: Magliano
authors: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Söderberg
authors: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Kee Seng
authors: KS
authors: Chia
authors: Population Health Research Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Zimmet
authors: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Wei-Yen
authors: WY
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008436:Mauritius / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: diabetes mellitus; obesity; prevalence; 患病率; 糖尿病; 肥胖