Health Promotion Papers & Publications

Introduction: In Bangladesh, diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant health concern contributing to numerous complications that enhance the mortality risk. This study aims to examine the impact of lifestyle patterns, socioeconomic conditions, and comorbidities among diabetic patients to establish valid associations between variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 450 patients with diabetes mellitus at the outpatient department of different hospitals in Bangladesh. Data collection was done through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results: The study analyzed sociodemographic and lifestyle traits among diabetic patients, categorized by gender and results were based on unadjusted analysis. Men had a higher prevalence of being married (99.4%) compared to women (97.9%). Women were more common in rural areas (67.5%) and less likely to own smartphones (12.3%, vs 24.7% for men). More women were overweight (31.2%) and owned house (92.1%). Clinical symptoms showed no significant gender associations except for headaches, more prevalent in women (OR=0.65; p=0.034). Women had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (48.3%, vs 35.4% for men, OR=0.59; p=0.009), while kidney dysfunction was more prevalent in men (16.5%, vs 9.6% for women, OR=1.86; p=0.032). Allergic problems (20.5%, OR=0.40; p=0.014) and asthma (5.5%, OR=0.22; p=0.029) were more common in women. No association was observed in the occurrence of ulcer with the respondents’ gender. Regarding lifestyle, 50.7% of respondents consumed rice more than once daily, 71.8% did not smoke, and most (59.1%) had a normal BMI. Conclusions: Based on our study findings, men should focus on renal health by refraining from high-glycemic meals, while women should concentrate on managing their weight and cardiovascular health by utilizing modern healthcare facilities.

Arafat Hassan Razon