Contribution of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Burden of Diabetes Among Women in Reproductive Age-Group in India: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

With the ongoing epidemiological transition, the burden of diabetes is rapidly accelerating in India, particularly in the past two decades. The study explores the burden of diabetes and the contribution of modifiable risk factors in the occurrence of diabetes among reproductive women (age group 15-49 years) across geographic regions of India. The study utilizes data from the National Family Health Survey in India 2015-16, Census of India 2011, and World Population Prospects 2015. Population Attributable Fraction was computed and the number of total and avoidable diabetic cases were estimated across regions. The prevalence of diabetic cases in India was 24.4 per 1000 women and it largely varies across geographic regions. Diabetes was found to affect around 8.2 million women in the reproductive age-group, out of which Southern region (accounted for 3.3 million diabetic cases), followed by Central (1.6 million), and Eastern region (1.3 million). Overweight, Obesity and Hypertension were important contributors to the diabetes burden, which if mitigated optimally can reduce diabetic cases by 1.6 million, 1.5 million, and 1.3 million, respectively. Inclusion of diabetes screening along with Maternal and Child Health services could help in monitoring and effective management of diabetes burden among women. An optimal level of monitoring regarding the cascades in diabetes care needs to be ensured by Government keeping women in a central place.