A cross-sectional study on diabetes epidemiology among people aged 40 years and above in Shenyang, China

This study aimed at understanding the diabetic prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates and their influencing factors among people aged >= 40 years in Shenyang, China. A face-to-face cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted on the respondents using the national unified questionnaire. A total of 3922 respondents were enrolled, including 609 cases of diabetes. The diabetic prevalence rate was 15.5%, and was higher in rural areas than that in urban areas (17.7% vs. 14.2%, p=0.004), while no difference was observed between men and women (14.8% vs. 16.1%, p=0.242). Advanced age, hypertension and dyslipidemia were the diabetes influencing factors. Among the 609 respondents with diabetes, the diabetic awareness and treatment rates, and the control rate of fasting plasma glucose were 82.3%, 36.6% and 17.1%, respectively. In different age groups, the diabetic awareness rate was higher in men than that in women, and the treatment rate was higher in women than that in men. The diabetic patients, who consumed fruit for >= 5 days a week, accounted for 16.3%, and their diabetic treatment (28.1%) and control rates (44.1%) were lower. Shenyang people aged >= 40 years have higher diabetic prevalence and awareness rates, and lower diabetic treatment and control rates. Finally, it is necessary to enhance awareness and education about diabetes, to improve its treatment and control rates.