Comparative Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Prevalence and Clinical Profiles in Ethiopia and Nigeria

We aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes and the clinical profiles of Type 2 diabetes in Ethiopia and Nigeria.

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from November 01, 2020 to October 21, 2021 among 1727 participants using a multistage sampling method. The WHO's STEPs tool was employed. Both fasting and oral glucose tolerance tests were used for screening and American Diabetes Association's (ADA's) diagnostic criteria was used. Stata version 17 was used for analysis. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Chi-square test were used to compare variables. Significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05.

Of the surveyed participants, 872 (50.5%) were men and the mean age was 44.6 years. The overall prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was 15.8% and 7.0%, respectively. Impaired fasting glycaemia and glucose tolerance were 11.8% and 11.5%, respectively. The prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes was 3.4% by fasting and 4.0% by oral glucose tolerance test. Participants with normal blood glucose were younger and had a lower weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, diastolic, and systolic blood pressure, and history of hypertension than those with prediabetes and diabetes.

In the present study, there is a notably high diabetes and prediabetes prevalence in the study settings. Individuals with diabetes in Ethiopia compared to Nigeria and the West have different anthropometric and clinical profiles characterized by a young age of onset, leanness, lower BMI, and waist circumference. Hence, the management of diabetes shall be tailored to the unique physiologic and clinical profiles of the population.