Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management, Vol. 5, No. 1, June, 2001, pp. 75-77

Prevalence Of Diabetes Mellitus Among Nigerians In Port Harcourt Correlates With Socio-Economic Status

* NWAFOR, A  ; OWHOJI,  A

Department   of  Human  Physiology, College  of  Health  Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
* Corresponding author

Code Number: ja01011

ABSTRACT

Random blood glucose analysis  by the  use  of the  Trinder’s  method  was    carried  out  to  determine    the  prevalence  of  diabetes    mellitus  among  Nigerians  in  Port  Harcourt.  The  study   population were randomly selected and classified into two socio-economic status as high or low based on affluent diet, occupation, income and access to medical care. The mean blood glucose concentration for the high socio-economic group – staff  of the oil industries was 7.42 ±0.25mmol/L and significantly higher (P < 0.001)  than that for the low socio-economic class -  the non- oil industrial workers, 5.33±0.45mmol/L. The  prevalence of diabetes was found to be as high as 23.4% among  the high socio-economic group and 16% among the low socio-economic group. Undiagonised diabetes occurred in 18.9% of the population studied and were not aware of their diabetic problem.  Diabetic – awareness programmes are  to be promoted with acion to identify people with diabetes early enough with the arm of providing appropriate medical treatment. @ JASEM

High blood glucose, more specifically, diabetes mellitus is a major health problem (WHO, 1998). Diabetes, clinically is a non communicable disorder but diabetics as a group are at increased risk of disease states such as heart diseases, blindness, nerve disorders,  kidney  diseases,  gangrene   etc (Adetuyibi, 1976, Alberti et al 1975, Hamstem and Steiner 1994, Amos et al 1997, Edward and Raffaele 1996). The exact cause(s) of diabetic – induced complications are not fully understood, the underlying factor that appears to make those with diabetes more prone to many health problems is prolonged and frequent elevation of blood sugar. The prevalence of diabetes, in the developed countries is well established.(Alhasmi et al 1995, Rewers and Hamman, 1995, WHO 1994). The world Health  Organisation stated in 1998 that a 122% rise in the number of adults with diabetes is projected by 2005, to reach 300 million adults worldwide (WHO, 1998).

The literature relating to the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria is scarce. In so far diabetes is a well known major public health problem worldwide, there is therefore the growing tendency that every effort should be directed towards actively looking for the prevalence of diabetes in the Nigeria population. Of interest is the general impression that the prevalence of diabetes among Nigeria population in Port Harcourt is as high as and perhaps comparable with that of the Western Countries because of the urbanization and industrialization of Port Harcourt and the  “Westernisation”  of lifestyle of the populace. The aim and the objective of this study therefore was to investigate and compare the prevalence of diabetes among different socio-economic groups in Port Harcourt from which the norm for Nigerians may merge and to ascertain whether or not those with high blood glucose are aware of their diabetic problem.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects for this study were randomly selected from staff of an oil company (Agip) Port Harcourt, staff and  students of College of Education. Port Harcourt and the  University of Port Harcourt  Teaching Hospital. Respondents were ages between 17 and 60 years. The oil company workers have access to a better dietary habits, health conditions, improved education and income and were classified as high socio-economic class. The staff and students of the College of Education and University Teaching Hospitals, Port Harcourt on the other hand were classified as low socio-economic group based on  the  aforementioned criteria. None of the subjects were found to be hypertensive  (defined as blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg).

The glucose oxidase (Trinder’s) method (Lett and Turner, 1975, Kannel an McGee (1979 Barham and Trinder, 1972) were employed for the study. Venous blood were obtained with a  minimum of stasis into a clean disposable plastic syringe and then transferred into a universal bottle containing anticoagulant potassium fluroxide. After mixing, the blood samples were then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes plasma was collected and kept at 37⁰c ready for use. Prior to use, the plasma was treated with glucose oxidase reagent and colour developed within 15 minutes. The colour that developed was measured colour metrically at 480nm. Statistical analysis of the data were done using comparison of proportions and paired  - tests. A p-valve less than 0.05 was calculated statistically significant

RESULTS

Out of 403 subjects, 141 (35%) were staff of Agip oil company and 262 (65%) were students and staff of the College of Education and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The mean blood glucose concentration  level of the staff of the oil company was 7.45±2.25 mmol/1 and was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that for the non oil company workers 5.33±0.48 mmol/1.This represents a difference of 68.2%.

There were 64 (45.4%) diabetics (53 or 37.6% males and 11 or 7.8% females) from a total 141 employee of the oil company studied (Table 1). Most of the employee of the oil company were males (male: female ratio 6.1:1). Thirty of the 53 (37.6%) diabetic males were known diabetics receiving medical treatment. All the diabetic subjects have been in the employment of Agip company for more than 10 years and moreso, non presented a family history of diabetes. The duration of diabetes was less than 6 years and all the patients were non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).Forty two diabetes (20 or 7.6% males and 22 or 8.4% females) from a total of 262 non oil industrial worker were employed in the study (Table 2).  The male: female ratio was 1:1.5.

There were 33/141 (23%) and 42/262 (16%) undiagnosed diabetes among the oil company staff and non oil company works respectively. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly increased (P<0.001) among the oil company workers than was for the non-oil company workers. The mean blood glucose concentration for the non-diabetics 77/141 (55%) among the staff of the oil firm and for the non-oil company workers 220/262 (84%) were similar (Tables 1 and 2). There  were 76/403 (18.9%) undiagnosed diabetes in the population and were not aware of their diabetic problem. subjects in the high socio-economic class and 5.33 ±0.45mmol/L for the 262 subjects.

TABLE  1:  Blood  Glucose  Concentration  Of  141  Staff   Of  An   Oil  Company In Port  Harcourt (Mean ± Sd)

 TABLE  2. Blood  Glucose  Concentration  Of  Non- Oil  Company  Workers In Port  Harcourt (Mean ± Sd)

DISCUSSION

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem (who, 1998). Published information on the prevalence for Nigeria is scarce. This perhaps might be a reflection that diabetes features relatively low among the health care needs of the country. In the present study the random blood glucose concentration was found to be 7.45±0.25 mmol/L for the 141 in the low socio-economic status. The normal plasma glucose concentration varies only slightly throughout the day and the random blood glucose cut-off point for the diagnosis of diabetes range from 2.5 to 7.3 mmol/L. The only rise that occurs in found after a meal but even then there is rarely a rise of more than 0.6 to 0.8 mmol/L (Superstein, 1975, WHO 1985).

The  high  prevalence  of  diabetes  among  the  oil   company  workers  compared  to those  in the  non-oil  industrial sectors  suggests  that  Nigerians  are  prone  to high rates of diabetes. Thrifty genotypes  hypothesis (Lakhdar, 2000, Gill, 1996)  provides  attractive  proposition   to  explain  the explosive emergence of  diabetes  among  the oil  industrial workers.  The  hypothesis    states  that  the  population  affected  with   high rates  of  diabetes  may  have  genes  that promoted fat deposition  during  periods  of  over - nutrition, which  represented  a  survival  advantage  in times  of  deprivation (Lakhdar 2000).  The prevalence of  diabetes  varies    considerably   around  the  world  (Humphrey et al 1995). The high prevalence    of diabetes among the oil  industrial  workers might be   associated  with  affluent  diet–a high fat consumption and the  corresponding reduced complex carbohydrate  intake  and    a  sedentary   life  style   (Elmugarner  et al 1995).

Inspite of  the  small  size,  the  present    study also  demonstrated   that  undiagonised  diabetes occurred in 18.9%  of the population  studied  and  were  not  aware  of their  diabetic  problem.  Reports  in the  literature indicated that rates of    undiagonised   diabetes  population  can  be  high  as  45  to 56%  in   Saudi  Arabia  (Al-Nuaim, 1997), 40-56%  in  Egypt  (Hermen  et  al 1995)  and    30 to 40%  in  Bahrain (Al-Mahroos and  Mekeigue  1998).  Thus  diabetic – awareness  programmes  is  to be    promoted  with  action  to identify  people   with diabetes  early enough  with the arm  of providing appropriate  treatment regimens.

REFERENCES