Unmasking a silent killer: Prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus among people living with HIV in rural South Africa

  • Annemiek E M de Vries
  • , Zanele Xaba
  • , Sehulong R Moraba
  • , Luise Goerlitz
  • , Hugo A Tempelman
  • , Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
  • , Lucas E Hermans
  • , Karine Scheuermaier
  • , Walter L J M Devillé
  • , Alinda G Vos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) and to identify factors associated with undiagnosed DM in people living with HIV (PLWH).

METHODS: Cross-sectional study performed at Ndlovu Medical Center, Limpopo, South Africa including PLWH aged ≥18 years. Between August and November 2017, 356 HIV-positive participants were included. Information was collected on socio-demographics, DM symptoms and risk factors for DM. IGT and DM were diagnosed using random plasma glucose and/or HbA1c. Factors associated with undiagnosed DM were assessed by comparing participants with newly diagnosed DM to participants without DM.

RESULTS: IGT was diagnosed in 172 (48.3%) participants. Twenty-nine (8.1%) participants met the definition of DM, of whom 17 (58.6%) were newly diagnosed. Compared to participants without DM, participants with DM were on average 5 years older, were more likely to have a positive family history for DM, were less physically active and had higher systolic blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference. Factors associated with undiagnosed DM included age ≥45 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.59) and physical inactivity (OR = 3.17).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IGT and DM among PLWH is high and more than half of DM cases were undiagnosed. Regular screening for DM in PLWH is recommended, especially in an ageing population with additional cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)367-373
Number of pages7
JournalTropical medicine & international health
Volume28
Issue number5
Early online date15 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • diabetes mellitus
  • epidemiology
  • HIV
  • impaired glucose tolerance
  • sub-Saharan Africa

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