Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity in the Russian Federation accoding to the population survey

Abstract

Despite the widespread belief that diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are prevalent conditions, the available statistics in the Russian Federation lack data on the co-occurrence of multiple diseases, and clinical studies, along with registries, do not comprise representative samples. Objective. To assess the prevalence of coexisting diabetes mellitus and obesity within a representative sample of adults in the Russian Federation and to describe demographic characteristics, the hypertension prevalence, and attitudes towards various aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Materials and methods. This study involves a secondary analysis of data obtained from a representative population survey titled «Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE)». The survey included 9.294 respondents aged 18 years and older, who provided information regarding the presence or absence of DM and hypertension, smoking habits, and dietary practices. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated from respondents’ self-reported height and weight, and obesity was defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. Results. Among the respondents, 4.9% had a combination of DM and obesity, with a minimum of 0.2% in males aged 18—30 years and a maximum of 14.6% in females aged 70—80 years; in individuals aged 80+, the prevalence was 3.7% in males and 9.7% in females. Obesity was identified in 52.1% of respondents with DM, while DM was found in 20.3% of those with obesity. Controlling for age and gender, the probability of self-reporting hypertension among respondents with both DM and obesity was approximately nine times higher compared to respondents without DM and with a BMI of less than 25 (OR 8.9; 95% CI 6.2—12.5; p<0.0001). Furthermore, the smoking frequency was 40% lower in this group (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.5—0.9; p=0.004). Adjusting for age and gender, respondents with both DM and obesity were less likely to consume sweets and fast food compared to those without DM and any BMI. However, no significant differences were observed among respondents with DM across varying BMIs. Conclusions. The coexistence of diabetes mellitus and obesity is associated with age, gender, and hypertension. The presence of this comorbidities may lead to reduced unhealthy habits, a hypothesis warranting further investigation through clinical studies to assess potential risks. The findings not only contribute to understanding the prevalence of individual diseases as inferred from referrals to state outpatient clinics over the year but also provide insights into the prevalence of comorbid conditions across different demographic groups.