Poor glycaemic control and its metabolic and demographic risk factors in a Malaysian community-based study.

Abstract

The lack of population-based evidence on the risk factors for poor glycaemic control in diabetics, particularly in resource-poor settings, is a challenge for the prevention of long-term complications. This study aimed to identify the metabolic and demographic risk factors for poor glycaemic control among diabetics in a rural community in Malaysia. A total of 1844 (780 males and 1064 females) known diabetics aged ≥35years were identified from the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) health and demographic surveillance site database. 41.3% of the sample had poor glycaemic control. Poor glycaemic control was associated with age and ethnicity, with older participants (65+) better controlled than younger adults (45-54), and Malaysian Indians most poorly controlled, followed by Malay and then Chinese participants. Metabolic risk factors were also highly associated with poor glycaemic control. There is a critical need for evidence for a better understanding of the mechanisms of the associations between risk factors and glycaemic control.