Characterization of newly registered patients with diabetes mellitus in an out patient facility in Nigeria
Date
2007-09
Authors
Ogbera, A
Onyekwere, A
Fasanmade, O.A
Olayode, B.M
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Abstract
Background
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a non-communicable disorder that is of public health significance.
The burden associated with this all-important disease is unacceptably high. This is more so in
developing countries where there are limited health resources. There is a dearth of unpublished
data on DM from Nigeria thus this report attempts to bridge this gap.
Methods
This study was carried out at the Medical outpatient department of the Lagos State
University Teaching hospital for a 21month period (April 2004 - December 2005).
The subjects recruited for the study were those that were referred to diabetes outpatient
of the hospital. These referrals include those with longstanding and recently diagnosed
diabetes mellitus. The demographic data, anthropometric indices, biochemical parameters,
complications, co-morbidities, and other associated clinical features of DM were documented.
Results
A total of 419 referrals with diabetes mellitus were seen at the Medical outpatient of the
Lagos State University Teaching hospital during the period of the study. The Male: Female
ratio was 1:1.2. The mean age of the study subjects was 54.3412years and their ages ranged
from 17-89 years. Patients with Type 1 DM made up 36 (8.6%) of the study subjects. Chronic
complications of DM were with varying rates of occurrence. Hypertension was seen in a third
of all the subjects. Eye complications and erectile dysfunction were the commonest chronic
DM complications noted. Few of the patients were on herbal medications for the treatment of
their DM.
Conclusions
Proper auditing of DM cases is necessary for data generation purposes as this will make
policymakers and caregivers involved in DM care to be sensitized to the peculiarities of
DM.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Newly attendees , clinical characteristics , Diabetes mellitus (DM) , Public health , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Ogbera AO, Onyekwere A, Fasanmade OA, Olayode BM. Characterization of newly registered patients with diabetes mellitus in an out patient facility in Nigeria. Book of abstracts NSEM 2007