Center of Excellence for The Hill Tribe Health Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
PLoS One. 2022 Jul 25;17(7):e0271900. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271900. eCollection 2022.
Prediabetes is a major silent health problem that leads to the development of diabetes within a few years, particularly among those who have a low socioeconomic status. Hill tribe people are vulnerable to prediabetes due to their unique cultural cooking methods and their hard work on farms, as well as their low economic status and educational levels. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes among hill tribe people in Thailand and identify the related factors.
This cross-sectional study included participants who belong to one of the six main hill tribes: Akah, Lahu, Hmong, Yao, Karen, and Lisu. The study was conducted in 30 hill tribe villages in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. A validated questionnaire was administered, and 5-mL blood specimens were collected. Data were collected between November 2019 and March 2020. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations between independent variables and prediabetes.
A total of 1,406 participants were recruited for the study; 67.8% were women, 77.2% were between 40 and 59 years old, and 82.9% were married. The majority worked in the agricultural sector (57.2%), had an annual income ≤ 50,000 baht (67.5%), and had never attended school (69.3%). The prevalence of prediabetes was 11.2%. After controlling for age and sex, five factors were found to be associated with prediabetes. Members of the Akha and Lisu tribes had 2.03 (95% CI = 1.03-3.99) and 2.20 (95% CI = 1.10-4.42) times higher odds of having prediabetes than Karen tribe members, respectively. Those with hypertension (HT) had 1.47 (95% CI = 1.03-2.08) times higher odds of having prediabetes than those with normal blood pressure. Those with a normal total cholesterol level had 2.43 (95% CI = 1.65-3.58) times higher odds of having prediabetes than those with a high total cholesterol level. Those with a high triglyceride level had 1.64 (95% CI = 1.16-2.32) times higher odds of having prediabetes than those with a normal triglyceride level. Those with a high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level had 1.96 (95% CI = 1.30-2.96) times higher odds of having prediabetes than those with a normal LDL-C level.
Appropriate dietary guidelines and exercise should be promoted among hill tribe people between 30 and 59 years old to reduce the probability of developing prediabetes.
糖尿病前期是一个主要的隐性健康问题，它会在几年内导致糖尿病的发生，尤其是在那些社会经济地位较低的人群中。由于独特的文化烹饪方法和在农场的辛勤工作，以及较低的经济地位和教育水平，山地部落人群容易患上糖尿病前期。本研究旨在估计泰国山地部落人群中糖尿病前期的患病率，并确定相关因素。
本横断面研究纳入了来自泰国清莱府 30 个山地部落村庄的属于六个主要山地部落之一的参与者：阿卡、拉祜族、苗族、瑶族、克伦族和傈僳族。研究于 2019 年 11 月至 2020 年 3 月期间进行。采用经过验证的问卷进行调查，并采集 5 毫升血样。
共有 1406 名参与者被招募参加研究；67.8%为女性，77.2%年龄在 40 至 59 岁之间，82.9%已婚。大多数人从事农业部门工作（57.2%），年收入≤50000 泰铢（67.5%），从未上过学（69.3%）。糖尿病前期患病率为 11.2%。在控制年龄和性别后，有五个因素与糖尿病前期相关。阿卡族和傈僳族成员患糖尿病前期的几率分别是克伦族成员的 2.03 倍（95%可信区间=1.03-3.99）和 2.20 倍（95%可信区间=1.10-4.42）。与血压正常者相比，高血压（HT）患者患糖尿病前期的几率高 1.47 倍（95%可信区间=1.03-2.08）。与总胆固醇水平正常者相比，总胆固醇水平高的患者患糖尿病前期的几率高 2.43 倍（95%可信区间=1.65-3.58）。与甘油三酯水平正常者相比，甘油三酯水平高的患者患糖尿病前期的几率高 1.64 倍（95%可信区间=1.16-2.32）。与 LDL-C 水平正常者相比，LDL-C 水平高的患者患糖尿病前期的几率高 1.96 倍（95%可信区间=1.30-2.96）。
应向 30 至 59 岁的山地部落人群推广适当的饮食指南和运动，以降低患糖尿病前期的概率。
