ArticleInfectious diseases of poverty2018
Association between helminth infections and diabetes mellitus in adults from the Lao People's Democratic Republic: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Infectious diseases of poverty, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of helminths and anthelmintic treatment on cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors: A systematic review.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Pooled it
- The Impact of Helminth Infection on the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2021Pooled it
- Clinical challenges and technological breakthroughs in helminthic therapy for diabetes.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
- Steatotic liver disease among lean and non-lean individuals in Southern Lao PDR: a cross-sectional study of risk factors.Annals of medicine · 2024Article
- Transcriptome changes of liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini in diabetic hamsters.Parasite (Paris, France) · 2024Article
- Metabolomics (Non-Targeted) of Induced Type 2 Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats Comorbid with a Tissue-Dwelling Nematode Parasite.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Intestinal parasites and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.New microbes and new infections · 2023Article
- Infections and immunity: associations with obesity and related metabolic disorders.Journal of pathology and translational medicine · 2023Review
- Article
- Prevalence and Subtype Distribution ofInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- The Effects of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Organ Metabolism and the Immune System.Frontiers in immunology · 2020Review
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Authors and funding
26 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAs a result of epidemiological transition, the health systems of low- and middle-income countries are increasingly faced with a dual disease burden of infectious diseases and emerging non-communicable diseases. Little is known about the mutual influence of these two disease groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-occurrence of helminth infections and diabetes mellitus in adults in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among 1600 randomly selected adults aged 35 and older from four different socio-economical and ecological provinces. Information on socio-demographics, risk factors and health conditions was obtained from personal interviews. Clinical assessments including anthropometry (height, weight, waist and hip circumference) and blood pressure measurements were also conducted. Diabetes was classified based on self-reported diagnoses and a point-of-care glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test from finger prick blood samples. Stool samples for helminth diagnosis were examined with formalin-ether concentration technique for intestinal parasitic infections. The independent associations of helminth infections with diabetic status and HbA1c were assessed using multiple regression analyses.
resultsThe prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes was 37.3% and 22.8%, respectively. Fifty-six percent of diabetic cases were undiagnosed and 85% of diagnosed diabetic cases had poor glycemic control. Participants from rural areas and from southern parts of the country had higher infection rates, with Opisthorchis viverrini, being the most common helminth infection (30.5%). We found a positive association between Taenia spp. infections and HbA1c (β = 0.117; 95% CI: 0.042-0.200) and diabetes mellitus risk (OR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.10-8.05). No other helminth species was associated with glycated hemoglobin.
conclusionsHyperglycaemia and diabetic rates in Lao PDR are alarmingly high, but consistent with other high rates in the region. Given the high rates of under-diagnosis and poorly-controlled glycaemia in diabetes mellitus patients, routine diabetes screening and treatment is essential for the local healthcare system. Large longitudinal cohorts integrating biomarkers are warranted in the search of causal diabetes mellitus risk factors in the region. Common intestinal helminth infections, including O. viverrini, are unlikely to explain the high diabetes mellitus rates observed.
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