Prevalence of diabetes among suburban population of Ternate--a small remote island in the eastern part of Indonesia

Abstract

Aim: to study the prevalence of diabetes in a sub-urban population of one of the less developed provinces in eastern part of Indonesia and its associated risk factors.

Methods: a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2008 in adult population of TernateCityof North Moluccas Province, Indonesia, aged 20 years or more. Subjects were interviewed regarding diabetes risk factors by a standard questionnaire.Anthropometric (height, weight, waist and hip circumference) and blood pressure measurements were also taken. Diagnosis of diabetes was established by measuring overnight fasting capillary blood glucose with a glucose meter. Venous blood was also drawn for blood lipid profiling.

Results: 495 subjects consisted of 187 (37.8%) men and 308 (62.2%) women aged 20 to 84 years (mean age 47.30±12.78)were enrolled. Prevalence of diabetes (fasting blood glucose >126 mg/dL) was 19.6%. Four independent risk factors were identified, i.e. age at 45 years or older (OR=4.1, 95% CI = 2.4-7.1), having a positive family history (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.5-4.0), a body mass index more than 23 kg/m2 (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.02-3.3) and triglycerides levels more than 200 mg/dL (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.2-5.6).

Conclusion: the prevalence of diabetes in Ternate City, a sub-urban population in the eastern part of Indonesia is high. Having a family history of diabetes and being older are major risk factors of developing the disease. Metabolic factors are identified as the potential modifiable risk factors requiring intervention in the future.