Prevalence of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso)

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a pathological condition whose worldwide prevalence is growing, particularly in Africa, contrasting with an inadequacy of screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of this ailment in an urban environment of Burkina-Faso, as well as the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbid risk factors, such as arterial hypertension and obesity. Patients and methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study based on the compilation of clinical and biological data randomly collected from participants to a diabetes screening day organized at Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso) in December 2012. Participants aged <25 years were excluded. The evaluated parameters were age, gender, waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, and random (non) fasting capillary plasma glucose measurement, and presence of a metabolic syndrome. Results: There were overall one hundred and sixty five participants: 107 women and 58 men (sex ratio F/H = 1.84). The mean age (±1 SD) of participants was 42.81 ± 11.7 years. The prevalence of screened diabetes was 7.27%, with a prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes of 4.97%. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 34.55%. The prevalence of obesity was 15.15% (obesity class 1), 5.45% (obesity class 2) and 1.21% (obesity class 3). About 27% of women were obese versus 19.44% of men (p = 0.01). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 6.06%, and its presence was significantly associated with the female gender (9.35% in women vs 0% in men, p = 0.005). 50% of subjects screened with diabetes also had a metabolic syndrome versus 2.61% in non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.01). Conclusion: (Un)diagnosed diabetes was highly-prevalent in this urban environment of Burkina Faso undergoing the nutritional transition phase currently prevailing in sub-Saharan Africa.