The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58176

Shamsuzzoha B. Syed, MBBS, DPH, DFPHM, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge University, 24 Rubens Walk, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1QE, United Kingdom, 01144 1787 310316, sbsyed@hotmail.com

Population aging, urbanization, behavior and lifestyle changes, genetic susceptibility, and the health transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases account for the increasing significance of diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh. In the absence of quantified estimates of current and future disease burden attributable to diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh, this study aimed to provide such estimates.

Modeling methods were used to estimate the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh currently, in 2010, and in 2020. Resultant estimates of the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus and estimates of the epidemiology of the diabetic sequelae used in the Global Burden of Disease Study were used to calculate disability adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to diabetes mellitus and its sequelae in these populations.

Estimated current burden of disease attributable to diabetes mellitus and its sequelae were 265,718 DALYs (2.6 DALYs per 1000 persons) in rural Bangladesh and 61,829 DALYs (3.2 DALYs per 1000 persons) in urban Bangladesh. Disease burden in rural Bangladesh was estimated to increase to 311,068 DALYs (3.0 DALYs per 1000 persons) in 2010 and 389,686 DALYs (3.2 DALYs per 1000 persons) in 2020. Disease burden in urban Bangladesh was estimated to increase substantially to 197,267 DALYs (3.8 DALYs per 1000 persons) in 2010 and 328,934 DALYs (4.4 DALYs per 1000 persons) in 2020.

Public health recommendations to tackle such high disease burden were explored with emphasis on an integrated approach to non-communicable disease primary prevention addressing behavior and lifestyle issues.

Learning Objectives:

By attending this educational session, the participant will be able to:
• Recognize the importance of diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh
• List five reasons for the increasing significance of diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh
• Define disability adjusted life years (DALYs)
• Apply the concept of DALYs to estimate burden of disease in developing world countries
• Articulate estimates of disease burden attributable to diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh in terms of DALYs in the years 2000, 2010, and 2020
• Discuss public health strategies to tackle the current and future burden of diabetes mellitus in rural and urban Bangladesh

Keywords: Diabetes, Developing Countries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.