Prevalence of diabetes and its associated risk factors in south-western Uganda

Diabetes mellitus is a major pandemic disease globally with both high morbidity and mortality and a high health cost, especially in developing countries. Hence there is a need to establish its prevalence and risk factors. This article reports on a group of diabetic patients in Sheema district, south-western Uganda. The records of 701 adult diabetic out-patients were reviewed, as well as a cross-sectional study of 100 in-patients (both diabetic and non-diabetic) at Kitagata Hospital, Sheema District, south-western Uganda. Questionnaires were used for data collection and data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. The differences in proportion were tested using the Chi-square test, and p value significance was set at p<0.05. The prevalence of diabetes in the hospital was 2.5%. Type 2 diabetes was the most predominant (79%), having an increased prevalence in those >30 years old; women were mostly affected (60%). There was a strong relationship between diabetes type and age (p<0.001) and gender (p=0.035). Risk factors included family history (74%, p<0.001), smoking (48%, p=0.002), hypertension (45%, p<0.001), and alcohol intake (36%, p=0.795). We conclude that diabetes is common in our hospital population, and major risk factors identified include family history, smoking, and hypertension. Everyone above the age of 35 years with a diabetic relative and/or with hypertension should be routinely screened for diabetes.