Table 1 Characteristics of children/young adults with diabetes in Bangladesh, stratified by Diabetic Retinopathy Screening attendance

Socio-demographic Parameters

Age, n(%)

 - Under 15

 - 16–19

 - 20–22

 - 23–26

Age, n(%)

 - Mean (SD)

110(32.1%)

123(35.9%)

64(18.7%)

46(13.4%)

17.7 (3.8)

10(21.3%)

14(29.8%)

14(29.8%)

9(19.1%)

19.0 (3.9)

0.137

0.030*

Gender, n (%)

 Female

 Male

177(51.6%)

166(48.4%)

14 (29.8%)

33 (70.2%)

0.008*

Religion, n (%)

 - Muslim

 - Christian

 - Hindu

323(94.2%)

1(0.3%)

19(5.5%)

46(97.9%)

0(0.0%)

1(2.1%)

0.567

Mode of transport to hospital, n (%) (multiple response)

 - Rickshaw,

 - three-wheeler/Auto

 - Van

 - Private Car/Rented Car

 - Boat

 - Ship

 - Bus

 - Train

 - Other (walking)

128(37.3%)

111(32.4%)

7(2.0%)

14(4.1%)

4(1.2%)

15(4.4%)

245(71.4%)

31(9.0%)

121(35.3%)

15(31.9%)

13(27.7%)

0(0%)

2(4.3%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

33(70.2%)

4(8.5%)

15(31.9%)

0.894

Distance to hospital (time in minutes)

(Median ± IQR)

130 ± 185

120 ± 310

0.852

Distance to hospital (km)

(Median ± IQR)

35 ± 112

40 ± 120

0.813

Total family household members

(Median ± IQR)

5 ± 1

5 ± 2

0.181

Education Level Status, n (%)

 - Illiterate/no school attendance

 - Primary Education Certificate

 - Junior School Certificate

 - Secondary School Certificate

 - Higher Secondary School Certificate and above

8(2.3%)

67(19.5%)

103(30.0%)

80(23.3%)

85(24.8%)

4(8.5%)

10(21.2%)

12(25.5%)

9(19.1%)

12(25.5%)

0.215

Occupation of young person, n (%)

 - Day Labour/Farmer

 - Service (Government and Private)

 - Student

 - Small business/business

 - Housemaker

 - Unemployment

 - Others

10(2.9%)

11 (3.2%)

275(80.2)

5(1.5%)

22 (6.4%)

16(4.7%)

4(1.2%)

5(10.7%)

2(4.3%)

32(68.1%)

1(2.1%)

1(2.1%)

2(8.5%)

2(4.3%)

0.071

Household Heads Occupation, n (%)

 - Day Labour/Farmer

 - Service (Government and Private)

 - Driver/Rickshaw puller

 - Small business/business

 - Housemaker

 - Unemployment

 - Others

82(23.9%)

121(36.3%)

10(2.9%)

94(27.4%)

19(5.5%)

10(2.9%)

7 (2.0%)

11(23.4%)

17(36.1%)

4(8.6%)

13(27.6%)

0(0.0)

1(2.1%)

1(2.1%)

0.389

Currently married, n (%)

34(9.9%)

4(8.5%)

0.761

Family monthly income (US Dollar)

(Median ± IQR)

180 ± 180

135 ± 180

0.265

Family receives financial Government support, n (%)

22(6.4%)

1(2.1%)

0.242

Clinical Parameters and DM Management

Age of DM diagnosis (years), n (%)

 - 5 or Under

 - 6–10

 - 11–16

 - 17 or Over

(Median ± IQR)

28(8.2%)

103(30.0%)

193(56.3%)

19(5.5%)

12 ± 4

4(8.5%)

16(34.0%)

22(46.8%)

5(10.6%)

12 ± 5

0.450

0.777

DM Type, n (%)

 - Type 1

 - Type 2

 - Unknown

 - Nonresponse

155(45.2%)

53(15.5%)

134(39.1%)

1(0.3%)

23(48.9%)

4(8.5%)

20(42.6%)

0(0.0%)

0.625

DM controlled by; n (%) (multiple response)

 - Insulin

 - Other hypoglycaemic medication

 - Insulin and hypoglycaemic medication

 - Diet/Exercise

 - Other

298 (86.9%)

63(18.4%)

0(0.0%)

291(84.8%)

261(76.7%)

0(0.0%)

0(0.0%)

45(95.7%)

9(19.1%)

0(0.0%)

41(87.2%)

39(82.9%)

2(4.3%)

0(0.0%)

0.009*

DM duration (years),

(Median ± IQR)

5 ± 5

7 ± 5

0.212

HbA1c at last test

(Median ± IQR)

8.0 ± 2.5

9.1 ± 2.5

0.010*

How often are blood sugars tested at home, n (%)

 - Daily

 - 1-3x a week

 - 4-6x a week

 - Others

 - Nonresponse

41(12.0%)

221(64.5%)

31(9.0%)

26(7.6%)

24(7.0%)

11(23.4%)

21(44%)

4(8.5%)

4(8.5%)

7(14.9%)

0.041*

First degree relatives with DM (mother, father, brother, sister), Y, n (%)

187(54.5%)

17(36.2%)

0.018*

Any DM complications, Y, n (%) (multiple response)

 - Foot trouble,

 - Neuropathy

 - Eye problems

 - Heart problems

 - Stroke

 - Teeth problem

 - Very high blood sugars (hyperglycaemia)

 - Very low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia)

 - Skin problems

 - Not sure

 - Others

61(17.8%%)

7(2.0%)

136(39.7%)

7(2.0%)

1(0.3%)

55(16.0%)

25(7.3%)

172(50.1%)

23(6.7%)

22(6.4%)

68(19.8%)

8(17.0%)

2(4.3%)

14(29.8%)

4(8.5%)

0(0.0%)

3(6.4%)

3(6.4%)

26(55.3%)

1(2.1%)

4(8.5%)

18(38.3%)

0.898

0.343

0.192

0.012*

0.711

0.081

0.822

0.506

0.221

0.589

0.004*

Last attendance at hospital for DM treatment, n (%)

 - 1 week ago

 - 2 weeks ago

 - 3 weeks ago

 - 1 month ago

 - 3 months ago

 - 6 months ago

 - Other

4(1.2%)

4(1.2%)

0(0.0%)

44(12.8%)

240(73.3%)

31(9.0%)

20(5.8%)

2(4.3%)

0(0.0)

0(0.0%)

8(17.0%)

17(36.2%)

4(8.5%)

16(34.0%)

< 0.001*

Attended any hospital follow-up visits in the last 6 months, Y, n (%)

207(60.3%)

23(48.9%)

0.136