Occurrence of complications of diabetic patients during the worst flood in 2011 in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province

Abstract

d to predict risk factors of complication of diabetic patients during the worst flood in 2011 in Phra Nakhon
Si Ayutthaya Province. Population in the study was 19,442 diabetic patients who were registered for treatment
at hospitals in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, from October - December 2011. Data were collected using a
standardized questionnaire from 278 diabetic patients by stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed
using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis.
Most participants were females, Buddhists, aged between 41 to 60 years old. They were primarily educated,
employed, and diagnosed with diabetes for less than ten years. Generally, most participants had moderated stress
level, moderate awareness of the great flood, fair knowledge, and good attitude towards diabetes. Majority of them
practiced self-management behavior in a good level. The study revealed that average fasting blood sugar (FBS) of
diabetic patients was 153.9 mg/dL with standard deviation of 48.7 mg/dL. During the period of severe and lengthy
flooding, 51 patients (18.3%) had developed complications such as hyperglycemia (9.4%), and hypoglycemia (9.0 %).
Using multiple logistic regression, there are 3 predictive factors that associated with occurrence of complications.
All of them were statistically significant 1) Level of stress due to flooding, 2) Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) level,
and 3) Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) level.
The result of this study could be used as complication prevention data by controlling stress level, FBS level,
and LDL level. Moreover, public health policy should support all classes of health care system and launch out
disaster preparation policy. Health care database improvement, drug reservation, and health care support for chronic
disease were suggested to help improve self-care in the community.