Predictors of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at regional referral hospitals in the central zone, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Microvascular complications encompass a group of diseases which result from long-standing chronic effect of diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to determine the prevalence of microvascular complications and associated risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study was conducted at Singida and Dodoma regional referral hospitals in Tanzania from December 2021 to September 2022. A total of 422 patients with T2DM were included in the analysis by determining the prevalence of microvascular complications and their predictors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. A two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of microvascular complications was 57.6% (n = 243) and diabetic retinopathy was the most common microvascular complication which accounted for 21.1% (n = 89). Having irregular physical activity (AOR = 7.27, 95% CI = 2.98–17.71, p < 0.001), never having physical activity (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.4–4.01, p = 0.013), being hypertensive (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI = 2.14–11.68, p = 0.030), having T2DM for more than 5 years (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.42–5.26, p = 0.025), being obese (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.22–5.68, p = 0.010), and taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 0.15–0.77, p < 0.001) were the predictors of microvascular complications. This study has revealed a significant proportion of microvascular complications in a cohort of patients with T2DM. Lack of regular physical activity, being obese, taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly, presence of hypertension, and long-standing duration of the disease, were significantly associated with microvascular complications.