Gender differences in the risk factors for high and very high blood glucose levels: A study of Kerala

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews 2020-07, Vol.14 (4), p.627-636
• Main Authors: Biradar, Rajeshwari A., Singh, Dharmendra P., Thakur, Harshad, Halli, Shiva S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Blood Glucose; Blood glucose levels; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Hyperglycemia - epidemiology; India - epidemiology; Kerala; Male; Middle Aged; NFHS; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics; Women and men; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.05.001

Worldwide, lifestyle is a significant risk factor for diabetes. Lifestyle changes can lead to differences in the extent of risk of diabetes among women and men. Kerala, a state with one of the best health indicators in India, has a high prevalence of diabetes. This study aimed at comparing the variations in the risk factors for HBG and VHBG among adult women and men in Kerala. Data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015–16) used to examine the differences in the risk factors for HBG and VHBG in men and women aged 15–49 years. We used bivariate, multivariate and Population Attributable Risk (PAR) techniques for analysing the data. Bivariate results have shown the pattern of HBG and VHBG prevalence in women and men was same among all the age groups; however, men show a higher HBG and VHBG than women in all the age groups. Prevalence of HBG and VHBG was higher in women with a primary education, who were poor and not working as compared to their male counterparts. PARs results show that the prevalence of VHBG was higher among obese men and women as compared to normal men and underweight women. Prevalence of HBG was higher among men as compared to women due to alcohol use and weekly consumption of non-vegetarian food. The study suggests that there is an urgent need for targeted intervention programs to address the problem of HBG and VHBG in both men and women in Kerala to control blood glucose levels. •In Kerala, the prevalence of High Blood Glucose (HBG) and Very High Blood Glucose (VHBG) are above the national average.•The prevalence of HBG and VHBG prevalence was higher among men of all ages in Kerala compared to women.•After adjusting for age, burden of VHBG was higher among women who had a primary education and men with higher education.•The burden of HBG related to alcohol use, and weekly consumption of non-vegetarian food was higher among men than women.