EVALUATION OF DIABETES PREVALENCE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL WORKING IN DIOXIN-CONTAMINATED AIRBASES IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of diabetes of military personnels in three dioxin-contaminated airbases in Vietnam, including Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Phu Cat. Subjects and methods: A total of 699 military personnels (666 men and 33 women) from three dioxin-contaminated airbases (Bien Hoa, Da Nang, and Phu Cat) were recruited for the study from August to December of 2017. Plasma glucose and HbA1c concentrations were measured and prevelance of prediabetes and diabetes based on these indexes were estimated. Results: The prevalence of males with glucose levels > 7.0 mmol/L and HbA1c > 6.4% was 2.1% and 1.5%, respectively and overall rate of diabetes was 2.9%. Only one female showed HbA1c > 6.4% (3.0%), and no women showed glucose levels > 7.0 mmol/L. The prevalence of pre-diabetes was 21.2% for glucose index and 20.1% for HbA1c index and the overall rate of pre-diabetes was 35.3% in males. In women, these prevalence were 33.3%, 30.3% and 45.5%, respectively. In men, there were positive and significant correlations between age, the length of service and plasma glucose as well as HbA1c. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes was low whereas that of pre-diabetes was high in military personnels. Plasma glucose levels increased with the length of service, suggesting that a long history of dioxin exposure in the airbases may increase the risk of diabetes. * Keywords: Dioxins; Agent orange; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Military personnels.