Are We Treating the Right People? Are We Treating the People Right? Health Status, Knowledge and Quality of Life amongst Patients with Diabetes at a Specialized Clinic at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2016, Vol 16, Issue 2
Abstract
Aims: To describe health status, knowledge and quality of life among patients with diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary hospital in the capital of Malawi. Study Design: A cross-sectional observational study among randomly selected adult patients with diabetes. Place and Duration of Study: Diabetes clinic, outpatients department, department of Medicine, Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi between April 2014 and May 2014. Methodology: We included 271 randomly selected patients (82 men, 189 women; age range 18-86 years) with diabetes mellitus. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical status, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), comorbidities and medical history were assessed beside diabetes specific knowledge and subjective quality of life (QoL). Results: There were 77% classified as having type 2 diabetes vs. 23% type 1 diabetes. In 4% tuberculosis (TB) was suspected and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 13.6%. Level of education was high in 52%. Mean HbA1C was 7.1% and 15.9% had an HbA1c <5.5%. HbA1C was significantly higher in type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes (P < .001). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.1 kg/m2. The mean BMI for females 31.4 kg/m2 (SD 5.9) was significantly higher than that for males 26.9 kg/m2 (SD 4.6), (P = .001). Arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 61% and 52% had a systolic blood pressure >= 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mmHg. Among all participants, 23% had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) corresponding to stage 3 and above chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The majority of patients (62%) could not name their diabetes type or causes; 75% of participants expressed a significant fair overall QoL. Conclusion: The clinic was dominated by well-educated adipose females with relatively adequately controlled HbA1c and patients, who might have no diabetes. Patients with acute metabolic diabetes complications were underrepresented. Subjects showed a fair subjective QoL. Clinic function and focus as a specialized tertiary care center require re-definition.
Authors and Affiliations
Ali T. Yassin, Yohannie Mlombe, Claudia Beiersmann, Thomas Bruckner, Martin Zeier, Florian Neuhann
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP329055
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2016/25601
- Views 70
- Downloads 0
Unusual Findings in Morgellons Disease and Delusions of Parasitosis
We are presenting four new cases of delusions of parasitosis, two of which also had features of Morgellons disease. This illustrates the difficulties in therapy of these patients having almost universal refusal to accept...
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Zliten, a New Focus in North West of Libya
Aims: This study was done to evaluate the epidemiological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the patients who were presented to dermatology clinic of main referral hospital in Zliten, and to discover its distribu...
Surveillance of Injury in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India: A Hospital Based Study
Introduction: Injury is a major, preventable public health problem in terms of morbidity, premature mortality or disability. This study aims to assess the epidemiology of injury in patients admitted to a tertiary care ce...
Effect of a Cognitive-behavioral Program on Adherence to Antihypertensive Therapeutic Regimen in Older Adults: A Quasi-experimental Study
Aims: To determine the effect of a cognitive-behavioral program on adherence to the antihypertensive therapeutic regimen of the elderly. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: It was perform...
Onychomadesis Following the Outbreak of Hand Foot Mouth Disease in Children: A Study from North India
Background: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral disease that usually inflicts children. It usually resolves without major complications in about 1-3 weeks, however; there are various reports of onychoma...