Risk factors for long-term complications in patients with type 2 diabetes, in Sri Lanka

Objective: To identify risk factors for long­ term complicatio os in patients with type 2 diabetes in Sri Lanka.

 

Methodology: An unmatched, clinic- based, case control study. Diabetic patients enrolled from randomly selected medical clinics from primary, secondary and tertiary care level hospitals were interviewed to determine possible risk factors and· screened for long­ term complications. 252 diabetic patients having one or more Jong term complications were selected as cases and 288 diabetic patients free from long term complications included as controls.

 

Results: Peripheral diabetic neuropathy (25.2%), micro albuminuria (22.8%), retinopathy (20%), and coronary heart disease (12.4%) were some complications present among cases. 21.9% had only one complication while 16.5% and 6.9% had two and three com plications respectively. Only 1.5% had au fourcomplications.

 

In the univariate analysis, smoking, low family income, body mass index over 25, older age (over 60 years), longer duration of diabetes (11 -15 years), random blood sugar > 11, 0mmoV/, raised diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg were significantly (p<0.05) associated with the development of long-term complications, The latter four factors were significantly associated with a number of complications. Multivariate analysis identified older age (OR = 5. 51 CI 1.59, 19.17), duration of diabetes (OR= 2.08CI 1.23, 3.50), random blood sugar 11.0-16.7 mmol/l (OR= 3.15 CL 1.31, 7.56) and current smoking (OR= 8.88, CI 1.53, 51.53) as significant risk factors.

 

Conclusion: Long-term complications in type 2 diabetes are common among patients. Most of the significant risk factors are preventable.