Diabetes and It’s Associated Risk Factors in Bangladesh: A Logistic Regression Approach

Diabetes is an escalating public health issue in Bangladesh, with its prevalence increasing due to demographic transformations, urbanization, and alterations in lifestyle. This study examines the occurrence of diabetes and its correlating factors among adults utilizing data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2022. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on a sample of 13,980 adults aged 18 and above. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were utilized to evaluate the relationship between diabetes and several factors, including age, residence, division, education, wealth, and nutritional status (based on BMI), with distinct analyses for men and women. Findings reveal that older age was significantly associated with increased diabetes risk. Among men, individuals aged 55-59 have approximately 3.88 times higher odds of diabetes compared to those aged 18-19. Urban residence, particularly in Sylhet and Dhaka, was linked to a higher risk. Surprisingly, men with higher education level were found to be significantly associated with higher diabetes risk. Compared to those with no education, individuals with complete secondary education have approximately 1.608 higher odds of developing diabetes. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Overweight and obese men had significantly higher odds of developing diabetes with ORs 1.386 and 1.690. Also, among women, older age was a significant risk factor, with women aged 55-59 being 5.111 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to younger women. Rural residence was associated with a lower risk of diabetes compared to urban residence. Similar to men, Higher socioeconomic status and BMI were also associated with increased diabetes risk. But while significant associations between diabetes risk and divisions and education levels were observed among men, no such associations were found among women. The research underscores the necessity for focused public health initiatives to mitigate disparities in diabetes prevalence, especially among older adults, urban populations, and individuals with elevated BMI. The limitations encompass the cross-sectional design of the data, which constrains causal inferences, and dependence on self-reported information, which may introduce bias. Future research ought to concentrate on longitudinal studies and incorporate more extensive behavioral and genetic data to enhance the understanding of diabetes risk in Bangladesh.