Haemostatic Profile of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a major health problem that results in significant morbidity and mortality from diverse complications. Thrombo-haemorrhagic complications are well recognized among diabetic populations. Many of the previous haemostatic studies in diabetic Nigerians focused on patients from the west and south eastern parts with scanty information from northern Nigeria. A total of 50 diabetic subjects aged between 30 – 80 years attending the diabetic clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital were selected for the study. 50 aged and sex matched non – diabetic persons in the family medicine outpatient clinic of the same hospital were recruited as controls. Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Thrombin Time (TT) and fibrinogen weight were estimated using standard methods. There was significant prolongation of PT, APTT, TT of diabetics when compared with the non – diabetic controls (P<0.005). Also the mean fibrinogen weight was significantly higher in the diabetic patients than the controls (P<0.05). These findings suggest that despite the popular notion of a prothrombotic tendency in diabetes, diabetics may also be prone to developing haemonhagic complications. It is helpful to bear this in mind, and to include incorporate PT, APTT, TT and fibrinogen assay as routine investigations for better management of these patients.