Complications due to diabetes mellitus in Brazil: 2019 nationwide study

Abstract

Inadequate management of diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to complications that affect quality of life. The prevalence of DM and its complications is increasing, presenting an uneven distribution in the population. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of complications due to DM and to assess inequalities in the Brazilian population. It involved a cross-sectional study, with data from the 2019 National Health Survey (NHS). The complications evaluated were: diabetic coma, heart attack/cerebrovascular accident/stroke; kidney problem; vision problem and foot ulcer or amputation. The related factors were schooling and income. The prevalence of complications was calculated separately, combination in pairs, presence of any complications and number of complications. Inequality was estimated through adjusted analysis and the slope index (SII) and concentration index (CIX) indices. The sample consisted of 6,317 people with DM. More than a third (37.8%) reported having some complication. Vision problems (30.6%) and kidney problems (9.7%) were the most prevalent. The prevalence of having "one" and "two or more" complications were 25.4% and 12.4%, respectively. Inequalities were found with a higher prevalence of complications among the least educated and the poorest.