ArticleBMJ open diabetes research & care2023
Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Sri Lanka: a new global hotspot-estimates from the Sri Lanka Health and Ageing Survey 2018/2019.
Article in BMJ open diabetes research & care, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers.
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43 citing papers in PubMed, 69 citations in OpenAlex.
- Review
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- Using artificial intelligence-assisted retinal imaging devices operated by non-specialist workers in detecting diabetic retinopathy in Sri Lanka.BMC global and public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence and determinants of diabetes distress and its association with self-management among patients living with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.BMC endocrine disorders · 2026Article
- Diets, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Nutritional Status in Sri Lanka: A Scoping Review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2026Article
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- CKD in Sri Lanka - A Prevalence Study.Kidney international reports · 2026Article
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- Trends in Mortality from Diabetes and Other Non-Communicable Diseases Among Sri Lankan Adults: A Retrospective Population-Based Study, 2004-2020/2021.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Epidemiology of alcohol use in Sri Lanka: Findings of the SLHAS national survey.Global epidemiology · 2025Article
- Review
- Behavioral and demographic associations of optimal glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sri Lanka: a multicenter study.BMC endocrine disorders · 2025Article
- Hypertension diagnosis, awareness, treatment, and control in Sri Lankan adults: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Changes in pre-diabetes and diabetes prevalence and diabetes self-management behaviors across socioeconomic spectra in rural southwest China: 2013-2022.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Diet healthiness and double burden of malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years: a global monitoring tool approach using national dietary data in Sri Lanka.BMJ nutrition, prevention & health · 2025Article
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- Availability and affordability of anti-VEGF biosimilars for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema in Sri Lanka.Community eye health · 2025Article
- Article
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18 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
introductionThis study's objective was to produce robust, comparable estimates of the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the Sri Lankan adult population, where previous studies suggest the highest prevalence in South Asia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
methodsWe used data on 6661 adults from the nationally representative 2018/2019 first wave of the Sri Lanka Health and Ageing Study (SLHAS). We classified glycemic status based on previous diabetes diagnosis, and either fasting plasma glucose (FPG), or FPG and 2-hour plasma glucose (2-h PG). We estimated crude and age-standardized prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes and by major individual characteristics weighting the data to account for study design and subject participation.
resultsCrude prevalence of diabetes in adults was 23.0% (95% CI 21.2% to 24.7%) using both 2-h PG and FPG, and age-standardized prevalence was 21.8% (95% CI 20.1% to 23.5%). Using only FPG, prevalence was 18.5% (95% CI 7.1% to 19.8%). Previously diagnosed prevalence was 14.3% (95% CI 13.1% to 15.5%) of all adults. The prevalence of pre-diabetes was 30.5% (95% CI 28.2% to 32.7%). Diabetes prevalence increased with age until ages ≥70 years and was more prevalent in female, urban, more affluent, and Muslim adults. Diabetes and pre-diabetes prevalence increased with body mass index (BMI) but was as high as 21% and 29%, respectively, in those of normal weight.
conclusionsStudy limitations included using only a single visit to assess diabetes, relying on self-reported fasting times, and unavailability of glycated hemoglobin for most participants. Our results indicate that Sri Lanka has a very high diabetes prevalence, significantly higher than previous estimates of 8%-15% and higher than current global estimates for any other Asian country. Our results have implications for other populations of South Asian origin, and the high prevalence of diabetes and dysglycemia at normal body weight indicates the need for further research to understand the underlying drivers.
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