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Diabetes mellitus in The Gambia, west Africa
M Rolfe1, C M Tang, R W Walker
1Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia.
Insights
Diabetes significantly impacts The Gambia
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus presents a growing global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
- Understanding the local burden of diabetes is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence, characteristics, and healthcare burden of diabetes mellitus in The Gambia.
- To identify key complications and demographic differences among diabetic patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective registry of diabetic patients was maintained at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul.
- Data on patient demographics, treatment, diagnoses, hospital admissions, and mortality were collected over one year.
Main Results:
- 269 diabetic patients were registered; 25% required insulin, and 28% were newly diagnosed.
- Significant differences in age and obesity were observed between sexes and diabetes types.
- Diabetes accounted for 5.2% of hospital admissions, a fifth of medical out-patient attendances, and 3.6% of the national health budget.
- Ketoacidosis was a major cause of death, and foot infections were more prevalent in women.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes imposes a substantial burden on the healthcare system in The Gambia.
- Targeted interventions are needed to manage diabetes complications, particularly in women.
- Further research into diabetes epidemiology in West Africa is warranted.
Abstract:
A register of diabetic patients attending the Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia, was kept and data on hospital admissions recorded over a 1-year period. Two hundred and sixty-nine patients (110 men, 159 women) were registered of whom 66 (25%) were receiving insulin. Seventy-five patients (28%: 40 men, 35 women) were newly diagnosed. There were significant differences in age (p less than 0.001) and obesity (p less than 0.001) between men and women and between patients with different types of diabetes. There were 95 hospital admissions (5.2%) related to diabetes, as were a fifth of medical out-patient attendances. Ketoacidosis was the major cause of death while foot infections were more common (p less than 0.01) in women. Diabetes imposed a heavy burden on the health services of The Gambia, a small developing country in West Africa; more than 3.6% of the annual health budget was spent on the treatment of diabetic patients.