Increasing prevalence and low awareness, treatment and control of diabetes mellitus among Chinese adults: The InterASIA study

Aims: To estimate the prevalence rates of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and to evaluate the awareness, treatment, and control of DM in the Chinese adult population. Methods: The International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in ASIA (InterASIA), a cross-sectional study, was conducted in 2000-2001. A nationally representative sample of 15,236 Chinese adults between 35 and 74 years old who had fasting plasma glucose measured were used for the present research. Awareness, treatment, and control of DM were defined by subjects self-reporting a DM diagnosis and the use of a prescription medication or nonpharmacological intervention for DM, and had a fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dl, respectively. Results: The prevalence rates of IFG and DM in Chinese adults aged 35-74 years were 7.33 and 5.49%, respectively, with the age-standardized prevalence also 7.33 and 5.49%, respectively. Among patients with DM, 23.66% were aware of their DM, 20.33% were taking prescribed medication or nonpharmacological interventions, and 8.28% had fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dl. Among diabetics who reported a prior diagnosis of DM, 85.22% were taking prescription medication or nonpharmacological interventions and 35% had fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dl. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of DM among Chinese adults has been increasing in recent years. The rates of awareness, treatment and control of DM are relatively low. Improving the awareness, treatment, and control is urgently needed for the intervention of DM in the Chinese adult population.