Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Ambulatory Adult Nigerians: Prevalence and Associated Family Biosocial Factors in a Primary Care Clinic in Eastern Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multi-factoral medical condition that aggregates in the family and has implications for family health. Research analyses of determinants of type 2 diabetes mellitus have demonstrated the interactions and clustering of family biosocial factors in its epidemiology.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and describe the associated family biosocial factors in ambulatory adult type 2 diabetic Nigerians in a primary care clinic in South-eastern Nigeria.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Seven hundred and fifty patients were screened for diabetes mellitus and thirty five of them who had diabetes mellitus were age and sex matched with thirty five non-diabetic, non-hypertensive patients for the determination of the association with family biosocial factors.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at a primary care clinic in Umuahia, South-eastern Nigeria in May 2011.
Methodology: Data on family biosocial factors were obtained using pretested, structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Diabetes mellitus was defined using American Diabetes Association criterion.
Results: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 4.7%. Eleven (1.5%) of the diabetic patients were newly diagnosed in the hospital. There were fourteen (40.0%) males and twenty one (60.0%) females with sex ratio of 1:1.5. The age ranged from 28-82 years with mean age of 47±11.2 years. The middle aged adults were predominantly affected. Family biosocial factors significantly associated with type 2 diabetes were family history of hypertension (P=.006) and diabetes mellitus (P=.048). A significantly higher proportion of the diabetic patients had family history of hypertension compared to the non-diabetic and non-hypertensive subjects. The diabetic patients were one and half times more likely to have family history of hypertension compared to their non-diabetic and non-hypertensive counterparts.
Conclusion: The study has shown the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus with predilection for middle aged adult Nigerians. The associated family biosocial factors were family history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Screening adult Nigerians with family history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus for diabetes mellitus is recommended in primary care setting for family-centred preventive care.