International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences | Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2023 | pp. 33–40

DOI: 10.46882/2023/IJMMS/130033

Original Research Article

Prevalence of Microvascular Complications and Glycemic Correlates in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Chidi O. Okafor¹, Amina J. Hassan², Samuel K. Appiah¹*

¹Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

²Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.

Abstract:

Chronic hyperglycemia leads to progressive microvascular damage, increasing the risk of blindness, renal failure, and peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This cross-sectional analytical study evaluated the prevalence of microvascular complications and their relationship with glycemic parameters in middle-aged diabetic patients. We evaluated 180 T2DM patients aged 40 to 60 years who had been managed for at least three years. Diabetic retinopathy was assessed via dilated fundoscopy, nephropathy via microalbuminuria assays, and neuropathy using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Glycemic control was determined using Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), with values ≥ 7.0% defined as poor control. The mean duration of diabetes was 6.8 ± 3.2 years, and the mean HbA1c was 8.1 ± 1.5%. The overall prevalence of at least one microvascular complication was 48.3% (87/180). Peripheral neuropathy was the most common microvascular complication (31.7%), followed by diabetic nephropathy (24.4%) and retinopathy (18.3%). Concurrent presence of all three complications was confirmed in 5.6% of the participants. Logistic regression modeling demonstrated that poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7.0%) was strongly associated with a higher risk of diabetic nephropathy (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.8–6.5, p < 0.001) and retinopathy (OR = 2.9, p < 0.01). A longer duration of diabetes (> 5 years) also served as an independent predictor of complication risk. Microvascular complications are common among middle-aged diabetic patients and are closely linked to poor glycemic control, highlighting the importance of early intensive metabolic management.

Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Neuropathy, Diabetic Nephropathy, Diabetic Retinopathy, HbA1c, Microvascular Complications

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 14, 2023; Revised: March 22, 2023; Accepted: April 11, 2023; Published: May 12, 2023.

Citation: Okafor CO, Hassan AJ, Appiah SK. Prevalence of Microvascular Complications and Glycemic Correlates in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2023, 13(5): 33–40. DOI: 10.46882/2023/IJMMS/130033

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