Cascade of diabetes care in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal: identifying gaps in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and control continuum

Diabetes has become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in South Asia. Using the data from the three STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) surveys conducted in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal during 2018–2019, this study tried to quantify the gaps in diabetes screening, awareness, treatment, and control in these three South Asian countries. Diabetes care cascade was constructed by decomposing the population with diabetes (diabetes prevalence) in each country into five mutually exclusive and exhaustive categories: (1) unscreened and undiagnosed, (2) screened but undiagnosed, (3) diagnosed but untreated, (4) treated but uncontrolled, (5) treated and controlled. In Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, among the participants with diabetes, 14.7%, 35.7%, and 4.9% of the participants were treated and controlled, suggesting that 85.3%, 64.3%, and 95.1% of the diabetic population had unmet need for care, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with awareness of the diabetes diagnosis. Common influencing factors for awareness of the diabetes diagnosis for Bangladesh and Nepal were living in urban areas [Bangladesh-adjusted odd ratio (AOR):2.1; confidence interval (CI):1.2, 3.6, Nepal-AOR:6.2; CI:1.9, 19.9].