Association Between Physical Activity and Type 2 Diabetes Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaires: A Case-Control Study at a Health Promoting Hospital in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

• Published in: Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity metabolic syndrome and obesity, 2022-01, Vol.15, p.3655-3667
• Main Authors: Sodeno, Miho, Aung, Myo Nyein, Yuasa, Motoyuki, Moolphate, Saiyud, Klinbuayaem, Virat, Srikhamsao, Aranya, Aung, Thin Nyein Nyein, Sato, Setsuko, Tanigawa, Takeshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Data collection; Diabetes; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes therapy; Exercise; Glucose; Health care industry; health education; Health surveys; Hospitals; international physical activity questionnaires; ipaq; Lifestyles; Original Research; physical activity; Primary care; Questionnaires; Surveys; thailand; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1178-7007; 1178-7007
• DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S382528

Background: Health education and promotion is active in Thailand where diabetes is prevalent at 11.6% of the general adult population in 2021. Purpose: This study aimed to describe and compare the levels of physical activity between patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and non-diabetic controls in northern Thailand. Methods: This observational case--control study included participants aged between 25 and 74 years in Chiang Mai. We recruited 150 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at Sanpatong District Hospital and 150 control participants (non-T2DM) in the community. Interviews were conducted using the International Physical Activity Questionnaires--Short Form. Anthropometric measurements and social demographic information were collected from both patients and controls in 2019. Results: The mean age of the participants was 58.8 [+ or -] 8.4 years in the T2DM group and 56.5 [+ or -] 9.9 years in the non-T2DM group. Compared to controls, patients with T2DM had received significantly more physical activity education (P < 0.001, Fisher's test). Most cases (93.3%) had received such education at a hospital or health center. The median total metabolic equivalents (METs) minutes per week (min/week) for participants in the T2DM group were higher than those in the non-T2DM group (2726 vs 1140 METs min/week) (P < 0.001, Mann--Whitney test). Comparing the case and control groups in the category of PA level, we found that the case group had a higher proportion of high-level physical activity (P < 0.001, chi-square test). Conclusion: Diabetes patients attending a community hospital exhibited high levels of physical activity. The majority of them received education related physical activity from a primary health care service. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, DM, health education, physical activity, international physical activity questionnaires, IPAQ, Thailand