Epidemiology of Diabetes in Adults Aged 35 and Older from Shanghai, China

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of diabetes in adults from Shanghai, aged 35 and older, in 2013.

Methods: We estimated the diabetes prevalence in a representative sample of 18,736 adults who were selected through a multistage stratified cluster sampling process. A standard questionnaire containing questions about demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors was distributed. After an overnight fast of at least 10 hours, a venous blood sample was collected from each participant. For each patient without a history of diabetes, another blood sample was drawn 120 min after an oral glucose tolerance test to identify undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetic condition.

Results: Among Shanghai residents aged 35 and above, the overall weighted prevalence of diabetes was 17.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.4%-18.8%]. The prevalences were 19.3% in men and 15.8% in women as well as 19.1%, 15.4%, and 16.1% in urban, suburban, and rural residents, respectively. In addition, the weighted prevalence of prediabetes was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.3%-17.8%), with the prevalences of 16.5% in men, 16.6% in women, 15.2% in urban residents, 18.0% in suburban residents, and 18.5% in rural residents. Among all patients with diabetes, 68.1% (95% CI: 64.3%-71.6%) were aware of their status, 63.5% (95% CI: 60.0%-66.9%) received diabetes treatment, but only 35.1% (95% CI: 32.4%-37.8%) had adequate glycemic control.

Conclusion: In Shanghai, diabetes and prediabetes are highly prevalent. However, 1/3rd of diabetes cases are undiagnosed, and the rate of glycemic control is low.

Keywords: Control; Diabetes; Prediabetes; Prevalence.