Stroke in persons with diabetes mellitus in Jos, Nigeria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity from stroke in patients with diabetes are on the increase. Epidemiological surveys are most crucial in planning and allocating resources as they provide critical information for good policy formulation in a resource poor country The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus attending the Medical out Patient unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital. METHODS: A total of one hundred and twenty Nigerians with diabetes mellitus were consecutively selected and age-sex matched with sixty non-diabetic controls in a ratio of two to one respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the diabetics was 53.0 +/- 12.4 years while that of the controls was 54.5 +/- 13.9. The mean duration of DM was 8.4 +/- 6.9 years. Sixty five percent of the diabetics had their disease for up to five years. Eight (6.7%) of diabetic patients had ischaemic stroke while 3 (5%) of the controls had stroke. CONCLUSION: The frequency and risk factors for stroke in persons with diabetes mellitus in Jos, Nigeria are similar to those obtained in other parts of the world. A differing result of hyperlipidaemia as a major determinant for stroke in persons with diabetes mellitus is worth studying in future in a large prospective study.