| Are the Rates of Hypertension and Diabetes Higher in People from Lower Socioeconomic Status in Bangladesh? Results from a Nationally Representative Survey |
| Authors: |
Ismail Tareque, Atsushi Koshio, Andrew D. Tiedt, and Toshihiko Hasegawa |
| Source: |
PLOS ONE , 10(5):e0127954. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127954 |
| Topic(s): |
Diabetes
|
| Country: |
Asia
Bangladesh
|
| Published: |
MAY 2015 |
| Abstract: |
Objective
A well-established belief regarding inequalities in health around the world is that hypertension
and diabetes are higher in groups of lower socioeconomic status. We examined whether
rates of hypertension, diabetes, and the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes are
higher in people from a lower socioeconomic status than in those from a higher socioeconomic
status in Bangladesh.
Methods
We investigated a nationally representative dataset from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic
and Health Survey with objective measures for hypertension and diabetes. A wealth
index was constructed from data on household assets using principal components analysis.
Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were performed to test the associations between
wealth level, hypertension and diabetes.
Findings
People from the highest wealth quintile were significantly more likely to have hypertension
(Adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-2.25), diabetes
(AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.21-2.71), and the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes (AOR
= 2.17, 95% CI = 1.05-4.49) than people from the lowest wealth quintile. The odds of having
hypertension, diabetes, and their coexistence were higher for older people, women, people
who engaged in less physical labor, and people who were overweight and obese.
Conclusion
Wealthier people, particularly people from the fourth and highest wealth quintiles, should be
careful to avoid unhealthy lifestyles to prevent hypertension and diabetes. Health policy
makers and planners are urged to target wealthier strata in terms of hypertension and diabetes
initiatives while paying special attention to older people, women, people who engage
in less physical labor, and individuals who are overweight. |
| Web: |
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0127954 |
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