The existing gender difference in prevalence of
type 2 diabetes may be explained partly by women’s reproductive
patterns. A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate
the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and
their association with reproductive patterns, socio-economic
status, and anthropometric measures in Vietnamese women.
Potential risk factors for the conditions were analyzed using
multivariate logistic regression in the adjusted model, taken
into account the influences of the reproductive patterns (age at
menarche and menopause, year since menopause, number of
children, and newborn weight), obesity-related measures,
socio-economic status, and lifestyle-related factors. The ageadjusted
prevalences of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes were
10.1 and 4.7 %, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes increased
with age and reached a peak in the 60–64 group.
Systolic blood pressure, waist–hip ratio, and family history
of diabetes were the most significant risk factors for type 2
diabetes. The adjusted analysis model indicated that women
with early menopause (45 years of age) were 3.4-fold and 2.7-
fold more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes and prediabetes,
respectively, in comparison to women with normal age at
menopause. More attention should be given to elderly women
with early menopause, elevated systolic blood pressure, and
increased obesity-related measures, who are at high risk of
prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.