Pattern of diabetes mellitus-related complications and mortality rate: Implications for diabetes care in a low-resource setting

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM)-related morbidity and mortality is gradually assuming an endemic proportion in Africa. In Nigeria, DM-related complications are responsible for 3%–15% medical admissions in most facilities. Despite this growing trend, there is a paucity of studies highlighting the morbidity and mortality due to DM in Nigeria. Objective: This retrospective study documented the pattern of DM-related complications and mortality rates in Warri Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, hospital-based study covering a 7-year period (2012–2018). Data on age, sex, fasting blood sugar (FBS), random blood sugar (RBS), comorbid conditions, and the number of deaths were extracted from the case files of DM patients in the records department of the hospital. The extracted data were analyzed using the IBM IBM SPSS software version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Chicago, USA). Results: A total of 78 patients were studied. The age range of cases was between 20 and 79 years, with a mean age of 54.9 ± 13.9 years. The overall prevalence of DM was 18.3%; overall mean FBS and RBS were 186.0 ± 49.1 mg/dl and 272.9 ± 59.2 mg/dl, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 28.2%. Major complications observed were hyperglycemic emergencies (20%), hypertension (18%), stroke (17%), and nephropathy (14%). Conclusion: The study highlighted that DM is associated with morbidity and mortality among the patients. Therefore, efforts must be intensified on promoting DM management practices by individuals, families, communities, health-care system, government, and its international partners to reverse this ugly trend.