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The article presents an observational cross-sectional study on the control of diabetes mellitus (DM) among patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The study examines the characteristics of diabetic outpatients in the medical practices in an urban area, the factors associated with diabetic control among these patients, and the capacities of the patients to self-manage DM. It reveals the poor control of diabetes among Vietnamese diabetic patients.

Summary: Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Vietnamese diabetic patients and to investigate their characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 652 outpatients who were recruited from one public general hospital (People Hospital 115) and one private clinic (Medic Center) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We obtained informed consent from participants, collected clinical information from medical files, and conducted patient interviews. We evaluated the collected information descriptively and diagnosed metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Worldwide Definition of the Metabolic Syndrome. Results: A total of 517 eligible patients (175 men and 342 women) were analyzed. Mean age was 54.6 years for men and 60.7 years for women. Metabolic syndrome was observed in 39.4% of men and 70.5% of women. Central obesity was more prevalent among women (72.5%) compared to men (39.4%). Participants with metabolic syndrome were less likely to endorse a sense of general well-being, and women with metabolic syndrome were likely to have less diabetes-related distress. Conclusions: this study revealed a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in diabetic Vietnamese patients, especially among women, and revealed central obesity as a key feature. A prospective study should be conducted in this population in order to assess impacts of metabolic syndrome on disease outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]