Chronic Arsenic Exposure through Drinking Water and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study from Bangladesh

Authors

  • Mst Karimon Nesha MSc Student, Department of GIS and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management, University of Twente
  • Md Nazrul Islam Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • Nira Ferdous Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, MH Samorita Medical College, Tajgaon, Dhaka
  • Fahid Bin Nazrul Medical Office and Research Coordinator, Modern One Stop Arthritis Care & Research Center® (MOAC&RC®), House 17, Dhanmondi, Road 8, Dhaka
  • Johannes J Rasker Faculty of Behavoural Sciences, Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcps.v37i1.39281

Keywords:

Arsenic, Drinking water, Diabetes mellitus, Bangladesh

Abstract

The well-documented fact that chronic arsenic exposure can lead to skin lesions, atherosclerotic diseases and cancers. The findings of association between arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus indicate additional risk to human health. The aim of this study was to observe the association of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water and risk of development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To this end, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Comilla district of Bangladesh where ground water is heavily contaminated with arsenic. The individuals unexposed to arsenic were recruited from the Jhenaidah district. People with arsenic-related skin lesions were defined as subjects exposed to arsenic. Diabetes was defined if fasting blood glucose (FBG)>6.1 mmol/L following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The common odds ratio for diabetes mellitus among subjects exposed to arsenic was 3.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1-10.9). After adjustment for age, sex and BMI, the Mantel-Haenszel weighted prevalence ratio was 3.5 (95% CI: 1.1-11.1); 3.7 (95% CI: 1.1-11.8) and 4.4 (95% CI: 1.1-17.2) respectively. The indicated relationships were significant (P<0.05). The observations suggested, chronic arsenic exposure through drinking water may be a risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2019; 37(1): 5-12

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Author Biographies

Mst Karimon Nesha, MSc Student, Department of GIS and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management, University of Twente

Department of GIS and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management

Md Nazrul Islam, Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka

Department of Rheumatology

Nira Ferdous, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, MH Samorita Medical College, Tajgaon, Dhaka

Department of Medicine

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Published

2018-12-18

How to Cite

Nesha, M. K., Islam, M. N., Ferdous, N., Nazrul, F. B., & Rasker, J. J. (2018). Chronic Arsenic Exposure through Drinking Water and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study from Bangladesh. Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons, 37(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.3329/jbcps.v37i1.39281

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Original Articles

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