Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorder among older adults in rural southwest China

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study aimed to examine ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and its association with sleep disorders among the older adults Han and ethnic minority (Bai, Ha Ni, and Dai) population in rural southwest China.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 5,642 was conducted among the rural southwest population aged ≥60 years, consisting of a structured interview and measurement of fasting blood glucose, height, weight, and waist circumference. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality.

Results

The overall prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorder was 10.2% and 40.1%, respectively. Bai participants had the highest prevalence of diabetes (15.9%) and obesity (9.9%)(P < 0.01), while Ha Ni participants had the lowest prevalence of diabetes (5.1%) and obesity (3.4%)(P < 0.01). The highest prevalence of sleep disorder (48.4%) was recorded in Bai participants, while Dai participants had the lowest prevalence of sleep disorder (25.6%)(P < 0.01). In all four studied ethnicities, females had a higher prevalence of sleep disorder than males (P < 0.01), and the prevalence of sleep disorder increased with age (P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated older adults with sleep disorder had a risk of developing diabetes (P < 0.05). Moreover, the higher educational level, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main risk factors for diabetes in participants (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

There are stark ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and sleep disorders in southwest China. Future diabetes prevention and control strategies should be tailored to address ethnicity, and improving sleep quality may reduce the prevalence of diabetes.

KEYWORDS:

• Diabetes
• sleep disorder
• association
• ethnic minority
• China

SDG 3:

• Good health and well-being

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kunming Medical University on April 7th, 2020 (approval no. KMMU2020MECO31) and the study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Each study participant gave written informed consent for inclusion before participation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 72064026]; Major Union Specific Project Foundation of Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department and Kunming Medical University [grant number 202401AY070001-027]; Yunnan Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Innovative Research Team [grant number 2023CX11]; Program for Innovative Research Team of Yunnan Province [grant number 202005AE160002]; and the Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders reserve talented person project in Yunnan [grant number 202105AC160093]. The funders had no role in the study design, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.