Prevalence and risk factors of diabetes mellitus in Kinshasa Hinterland

• Published in: Dubai diabetes and endocrinology journal Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 97 - 106
• Main Authors: Wemankoy, O., On’Kin, J.B. Kasiam Lasi, Okwe, Nge, Mpandamadi, S.D, Longo-Mbenza, B., Kabangu, N.K., He, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Further Section; sub-Saharan Africa; Socioeconomic status; Diabetes mellitus; urbanization; obesity; Congo; lifestyle
• ISSN: 2673-1797; 1606-7754; 2673-1738; 2073-5944
• DOI: 10.1159/000497659

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and to determine the risk factors of DM among urban and rural areas of Kinshasa Hinterland. Research, Design and Methods: Data were collected from a multistage random sample cross-sectional surveys of adult black Africans from Kinshasa region DR Congo with the help of a structured questionnaire, physical examinations and blood samples, using the WHO stepwise approach and the new criteria of WHO to define glucose intolerance. Prevalence rates were adjusted using the standard world population of Waterhouse and the standard population of Kinshasa region. Results: A total of 9770 subjects age ≥ 12 years participated (response rate of 90.3%) in this study. Age-adjusted rates to world population of IFG, IGT, DM by fasting plasma only, DM by 2h-load test only, and all cases of DM were 9.3%, 9.6%, 16.1%, 8.4% and 25.3%, respectively. Male sex, rural residence, total obesity, abdominal obesity, viral infection, milk intake, and kwashiorkor were the univariate risk factors of all cases of DM. Adjusted for confounders, advancing age, rural-urban migration, physical inactivity, smoking, abstinence of alcohol, low intake of fruits-vegetables, family history of DM, refined sugar intake, high social class, high intake of animal fat and protein, and stress, were the independents determinants of all cases of DM. Conclusions: This study observed epidemic rates of glucose intolerance. Primary prevention through lifestyle changes is needed to control DM among Africans under demographic and nutrition transition.