Clinical and demographic characteristics of Ghanaian patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The association of diabetes mellitus with demographic indices such as sex, age, obesity and hypertension varies between different ethnic groups and countries. The study investigated the association of demographic  parameters with diabetes mellitus in Ghanaian diabetic patients. It was a study conducted on 456 diabetic patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Kumasi, Ghana, from January 2007 to May 2008. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess demographic characteristics. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were taken and body mass index (BMI) (kgm·2) calculated . Fasting blood glucose concentrations were measured by enzymatic methods. There were more Ghanaian females with diabetes mellitus than males and more non-insulin requiring than insulin-requiring patients. The study also showed that 90.6 per cent of the Ghanaian diabetic patients were 40 years and above and had late onset diabetes, 60.5 per cent had diabetes duration of 1-9 years and carry clinical modifiable risk factors for microvascular disease, and 39.4 per cent of patients had clinical modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease with values in females higher than males.