Demographic and Clinical Features of Diabetes Mellitus in 1095 Yemeni Patients

Abstract

The ever-increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus is a cause for growing public health concern in both developed and developing countries. In this study, we aim to explore the special demographic and clinical features of diabetes, as seen in a large sample of Yemeni patients, and to compare these features with those reported in other countries. All patients referred to our diabetic clinic over a five-year period were investigated according to a standardized protocol. Data was collected and fed into a personal computer with a software statistical package for analysis. The relative frequencies of clinical classes of diabetes were 10.5% for IDD, 58.6% for non-obese NIDDM; 26.2% for obese NIDDM, and 4.7% for IGT. In the IDDM class, the age-specific relative frequency rate showed a higher and earlier onset peak frequency in females than in males. Among NIDDM class, about 31% of patients were diagnosed under the age of 45 years, and only 12% were first diagnosed after the age of 65 years. Most NIDDM patients came from social classes I and II (professionals and intermediate professionals) and most IDDM patients came from social class IIIM (skilled manual). A positive family history of diabetes among first-degree relatives of index patients was observed in 33.7% of IDDM patients, in 30% of non-obese NIDDM patients, in 39.2% of obese NIDDM patients and 32% of IGT patients. Female NIDDM patients had a significantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) than males (P<0.0001). Hypertension was recognized in 24.2% of the diabetic population aged 20 to A(3) 65 years. Large vessel disease (LVD) was observed in 28% of patients, small vessel disease (SVD) in 45%, and peripheral neuropathy in 40.7%. Inadequate glycemic control was noticed during follow-up in the majority of patients. Diabetes mellitus in Yemen, especially NIDDM, is characterized by an earlier age at onset, and predominance of males and non-obese NIDM subclass. Other characteristics include moderate genetic susceptibility, inadequate glycemic control and high prevalence of chronic complications.