Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in women compared with men among Mongolian adults. Preventive strategies aimed at men with a higher alcohol consumption and women with widowed status may help reduce metabolic syndrome, thereby improving cardiovascular health conditions in Mongolia.

Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) is one of the most air polluted capital cities in the world, with ambient sulfide dioxide (SO 2 ) and particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels > 23 times World Health Organization (WHO) standards in winter. Several studies have examined the effects of air pollution on pregnancy, providing that exposure to ambient air pollutants is associated with poor birth outcome, such as low birth weight. Our study goal was to study the associations between air pollution exposures during pregnancy and low birth weight among all full-term births (gestational age 37 -42 weeks) for a 6-year period (January 2008 through December 31, 2013) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In the study we recruited 160,676 singletons. We used a logistic regression adjusting for gestational age, parental education level, parity and infant age. The adjusted relative risk of low birth weight was 1.06 (95% CI = 1.01 -1.12) for each inter-quartile increase in NO2 concentrations. The risk of low birth weight was increased to 1.04 (95% CI = 0.93 -1.15) for CO, 1.02 (95% CI 0.97 -1.05) for SO 2 and 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 -1.08) for PM 10 . Each inter-quartile increase of NO 2 concentration during the first trimester reduced 10.74 gm of birth weight. SO 2 , CO and PM 10 also decreased birth weight 7.62, 7.49, and 8.72 gm, respectively. Each inter-quartile increase of pollutants decreases baby weight up to 11 grams.

Many Mongolian people suffer from non-communicable chronic diseases. In order to plan preventive strategies against such diseases, we designed a community-based prospective cohort study of chronic diseases, called the Moncohort study, in Mongolia. This is the first nationwide large-scale cohort study of chronic diseases. This paper describes the study's rationale, design and methods with baseline data. Mongolian residents aged ⩾40years were selected nationwide from many geographic regions in 2009. Data were collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and anthropometric and biochemical measurements. In total, 2280 Mongolian residents were registered in the survey. Socioeconomic, lifestyle, anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were differentiated by gender and geographical area in descriptive data. Aging, low social class, physical inactivity and infrequent fruits intake were positively associated with histories of chronic disease in men, while aging was positively associated with histories of chronic disease in women. Factors associated with chronic diseases reveal gender-oriented strategies might be needed for their prevention. Detailed prospective analyses will illustrate the impact of risk factors on chronic diseases and lead to evidence for designing programs aimed at preventing chronic diseases and related disorders in Mongolia.

Purpose The burden of diabetes in Mongolia has risen tremendously over the last three decades, and an individually tracked, national registry of diabetes is lacking. Therefore, we aim to investigate diabetes prevalence in Mongolia and analyze some associated factors. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional, nationally representative, population-based survey was carried out in Mongolia. We recruited participants from randomly selected six different clusters for the required 3113 ± 311 sample size. We collected detailed demographics, diabetes condition and medications, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and glucose profiles. Oral glucose tolerance tests were used to diagnose diabetes using the International Diabetes Federation algorithm. Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression tests were used to determine associated factors. Age-standardized prevalence rates were estimated. Results We recruited 3272 participants in the study between June and October 2019. Crude prevalence rates for prediabetes and diabetes were 10.8% (95% CI; 9.8–11.9) and 11.2% (95% CI; 10.1–12.3), respectively. Sixty-one adults were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Age-standardized prediabetes and diabetes prevalence rates were 9.8% (95% CI; 8.5–11.1) and 10.0% (95% CI; 8.7–11.3) among adults 30 or older. Higher BMI, central obesity, diabetes inheritance, sedentary habitus, and hypertension are significantly associated with diabetes in adjusted analysis for sex and age group. Conclusion The prevalence of diabetes has increased at least threefold since 1999 in Mongolia. In addition, numerous modifiable risk factors were associated with diabetes. Therefore, future investigations and programs should focus on combating obesity and sedentary lifestyles and propose dietary recommendations in the context of expanding diabetes in Mongolia.