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 46
- Downloads 0
Recent Toxoplasmosis among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Aim: To determine the seroprevalence of recent Toxoplasma gondii infection using IgG avidity Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) among pregnant women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. S...
Strongyloides Hyperinfection in Renal Transplant - diagnosis by Endoscopic Intestinal Biopsy
Introduction: Intestinal parasites continue to be a significant health problem in renal transplantation patients. Strongyloides infection is unique that it excretes larvae and can continue life cycle by auto infective cy...
Workplace Assessment of Hypertension: Prevalence and Awareness in a Food Processing Industry in Owerri Nigeria
Workplace health assessment is the process of gathering information about the factors that support or hinder the health of employees at particular opportunities to improve or address them. It helps to identify the curren...
Cholecystitis – Mode of First Presentation of Sickle Cell Anemia in an Adult Nigerian: A Case Report
Background: This article aimed to sensitize the healthcare providers to the possibility of late and atypical presentation of sickle cell anemia (SCA). Case Presentation: A 24 year old female university undergraduate pre...
Rapid Oral Fluid HIV Antibody Testing in Exposed Babies: A Diagnostic Study
Aims: The usefulness of rapid oral fluid HIV antibody tests has rarely been evaluated in exposed babies. Study Design: A diagnostic survey comparing the performance of oral fluid HIV antibody test and the routine rapi...