Diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia: mortality.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F T Lester.
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In 7 years, 809 Ethiopian patients have been seen in a diabetic clinic in Addis Ababa, of whom 105 have had diabetes for more than 15 years (none more than 30 years). Of those with "long term" diabetes 13 were Type 1 (insulin-dependent), 68 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) non-obese and 24 Type 2 obese; 28% had always taken insulin, and a further 19% required insulin after some years of oral therapy. Diabetic retinopathy was found in 38%, 27% had normal fundi, and 14% had cataracts so dense the fundi were obscured; for 21% fundal examination was not recorded. Cataracts were or had been present in 40% of patients, and caused more visual handicap than retinopathy. Thirty percent of patients had nephropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was found in 47%. Cardiac, foot and miscellaneous vascular complications were seen, but were much less common. Thirty-one patients (30%) died during the 7 years, the commonest cause of death being renal failure, but an encouraging proportion (61%) had no severely handicapping complications and were independent after more than 15 years of diabetes.
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The clinical features of 44 episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis in 34 Ethiopians were similar to those reported from other nations. The mortality ws only 9.1%, even though serum potassium, bicarbonate and pH could not be measured. Although 3 patients were new diabetics, and the cause was not found in 7, most cases resulted from omission of insulin (43%) or intercurrent illness (28%). Socioeconomic factors, particularly the cost and unreliability of insulin supplies, are major obstacles to the control of diabetes and the prevention of ketoacidosis in Ethiopian patients.
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The clinical features seen in 27 Ethiopian juvenile diabetics, which were similar to those of juvenile diabetics elsewhere, are summarized in this first published report from an African country of childhood diabetes. Control was difficult and admission to hospital frequent because of poverty, uncontrolled diets and irregular supplies of insulin. This group of childhood diabetics represents 9.8% of patients attending a diabetic clinic in Addis Ababa. Survey of the published information on diabetes mellitus in African populations reveals that most series do contain several children and a significant number of teenagers. It is concluded that juvenile diabetes mellitus is not rare in African countries.
A patient in whom cryptococcal meningitis complicated a nine year old depressed frontal skull fracture, an association which has not been reported previously, is recorded. This is also the first case of cryptococcal meningitis recognised in Ethiopia.
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The clinical features of tuberculous peritonitis in 48 Ethiopian patients are discussed. Thirty per cent of patients were afebrile, three fourths had ascites, and fifteen per cent had palpable abdominal masses, and therefore several had been wrongly diagnosed initially as cirrhosis of the liver or malignancy. Peritoneal biopsy, usually possible with local anaesthesia only, appears to be the most reliable method of proving the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.