DIABETES MELLITUS: RISK FACTORS AND COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS ATTENDING MAAMOBI GENERAL HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT

Background: Unhealthy diet, smoking, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, impaired glucose

tr' ", "ce nGT) and/or impaired fasting glycaemia (JFG) result in diabetes mellitus. The

hyperglycemic condition in diabetics leads to the development of some complications driven by

both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. This study therefore seeks to determine the risk

factors and associated complications in patients with diabetes mellitus at the Maamobi General

l-! " " '~l 'r. ,"'rder to help guide policies and practices in diabetic care management plans. General

Aim: To detennine diabetes mellitus risk factors and complications in patients attending Maamobi

General Hospital.

Mcthodolo~': This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a quantitative method. This

i~' , : "': "", use of structured questionnaires. The study population included all diabetes mellitus

paticnt attending the diabetic clinic at the Maamobi General Hospital. Simple Random Sampling

Without Replacement (SRSWOR) technique was employed to select 132 diabetes mellitus

patients. Information was captured on sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors

c' " '~l':,; mellitus related complications. Data from the questionnaire were entered into

Microsoft Excel and then transferred to STATA Version 14 for analysis. Simple proportions and

means were used to describe categorical and numerical data, respectively. Chi square and Cramer's

v tests were used to test for association and strength between the explanatory variables and the

O';'C"'1;(, variables. A confidence interval of 95% was used to show significant relations between

the dependent and the independent variables.

ResultslFindings: The results show a high prevalence of complications with predominance of

di~h~tic retinopathy (46.0%), followed by diabetic foot (24.0%) and erectile dysfunction (24%).

Thc prevalence of hypertension was very high at 97.07% among the respondents. Additionally,

respondents' level of commitment to physical activity and good diet is low. There was also a

significant association between gender of respondents and diabetes mellitus complications where

" ,..' ::'ce rate was high in males than females. Age, educational level, marital status and

religiOUS affiliations of the respondents were not significantly related to the complications

observed.

Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus

COil" ,.'~': :5 and hypertension comorbidity among diabetes patients at the Maamobi General

Hospital. The study calls for regular medical screening of complications to prevent progression.