The burden of diabetes and hypertension on healthy life expectancy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract Diabetes and hypertension are among the leading causes of death in Bangladesh. This study examined diabetes and hypertension-free life expectancy, the effect of either disease and the aggregate effect of both diseases on healthy life expectancy in Bangladesh. We utilized data from Bangladesh sample vital statistics, 2018 for mortality, and Bangladesh demographic and health survey 2017-18 for diabetes and hypertension. Sullivan method has been employed to estimate age-specific hypertension and diabetes-free life expectancy. Altogether, 6% of the people lived with both diabetes and hypertension. The life expectancy free of both diseases is 56.6 years. Life expectancy without either of the diseases is 36.9 years. The prevalence of hypertension is higher than diabetes. The hypertension-free life expectancy is 40.4 years, and the diabetes-free life expectancy is 53.2 years. Female suffers more from the aggregate effect of the two chronic diseases. However, female suffers more from hypertension, and male suffers from diabetes. Diabetes and hypertension affect a considerable proportion of life of the population in Bangladesh. Policy actions are needed to guide for prevention and treatment of both diseases with a specific focus on women.