Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes Mellitus among Adults in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM), one of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is increasingly becoming an important public health concern. This study examined the prevalence, control and risk factors associated with DM2 among adults in the Hohoe Municipality.

Methods: This was a hospital-based case control study that involved 70 cases and 140 controls. Data was collected using a face-to-face interview with structured questionnaires. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and anthropometric indices were measured with appropriate instruments following standard procedures. Differences in means were determined using t-test. The Chi-square test and the conditional logistic regression model were used to determine association and the strength of the association between independent categorical variables and DM2 respectively.

Results: Uncontrolled diabetes among cases was 78.6%. Prevalence of hypertension among cases was higher (64.3%) than in controls (60.0%). Adults with overweight and obesity were 13.03 and 12.81 times more likely to develop diabetes (AOR=13.02, p=0.011) and (AOR=12.81, p=0.015) respectively. Civil servants were 0.15 times less likely to have diabetes (AOR=0.15, 0.048). Adults who recently tested their blood glucose, or current/ex-smokers were 12.03 and 12.88 times more likely to develop diabetes (OR=12.03, p<0.001) and (OR=12.88, p=0.037) respectively.

Conclusion: One out of 5 diabetics could not control their blood glucose levels. Six out of 10 diabetics had hypertension. Recent testing of blood sugar, overweight and obesity, smoking and occupation were factors found to be associated with diabetes in the Hohoe Municipality.