Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus in Kandahar, Afghanistan: a cross-sectional analytical study

Abstract

Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Main objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting uncontrolled T2DM. Methods. This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Kandahar, Afghanistan during July–December, 2018. Data was collected from 748 T2DM patients aged > 20 years. Data was analyzed with SPSS software using descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and binary logistic regression. results. Among 748 T2DM patients, 390/748 (52.1%) were females with 246/258 (95.3%) having low or middle socio-economic status. Family history of DM was present in 402/746 (53.9%) patients with 370/740 (50%) patients having uncontrolled DM. Vanaspati or animal fat was used by 728/748 (97.3%) of the patients, with 194/746 (26%) patients doing regular exercise. Oral hypoglycemic drugs were used by 666/720 (92.5%) of the patients. Comorbidities were present in 612/748 (81.8%) of the patients, with 348/748 (46.5%) having hypertension while 566/746 (75.9%) of the patients were either overweight or obese. Binary logistic regression revealed female gender (Adjusted Odds ratio [AOr] 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.5), job without vigorous activity (AOr 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.6), and late diagnosis of DM (AOr 9.2, 95% CI 1.2–73.4) as the risk factors for uncontrolled T2DM. Conclusion. Uncontrolled DM is prevalent in Kandahar. Proper control of the risk factors for uncontrolled DM will help in decreasing the severity and complications of DM. Diabetic services improvement, especially public awareness programs on media, is highly recommended to improve diabetic care in Kandahar.