ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Anemia has been a common comorbidity in most chronic diseases, but has not been well monitored in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anemia and its nexus with iron stores among T2DM patients in health facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 213 T2DM out-patients attending the diabetic clinics at the Kumasi South Hospital and St. Michaels Hospital, Jachie Pramso, Ghana, for routine check-ups. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data from study participants. Blood samples were collected to estimate hematological parameters and iron stores. Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the difference in hematological parameters and iron stores between anemic and nonanemic patients. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 213 T2DM participants, the prevalence of anemia was 31.9%. More females 145 (68.1%) were registered than males 68 (31.9%). Anemic patients had significantly lower levels of mean cell volume [79.30/fL vs. 82.60/fL, p = 0.001], mean cell hemoglobin [26.60/pg vs. 27.90/pg, p < 0.0001], and mean cell hemoglobin concentration [33.10/g/dL) vs. 33.80/g/dL, p < 0.0001] than those without anemia. Serum levels of ferritin (p = 0.1140), transferrin (p = 0.5070), iron (p = 0.7950), and total iron binding capacity (p = 0.4610) did not differ significantly between T2DM patients with or without anemia. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of anemia among the T2DM patients in our cohort, patients present with apparently normal iron stores. This unrecognized mild anemia must be frequently monitored among T2DM patients.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus has been linked to unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits. However, this association has not been well studied among rural and urban Ghanaian populations. In this study, we determined the prevalence, knowledge, and lifestyle-associated risk factors of dyslipidemia among Ghanaian type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in rural and urban areas. Methods: This comparative multicentre-cross-sectional study recruited 228 T2DM outpatients attending the St. Michael Hospital, Pramso (rural) and Kumasi South Regional Hospital (urban), Ghana for routine check-ups. Self-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, knowledge, and lifestyle characteristics. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure lipid profiles. Dyslipidemia was defined per the American Diabetes Association criteria. All p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 79/228 (34.7%). Dyslipidemia was more prevalent among urban participants 43 (18.9%) than rural participants 36 (15.8%). Twenty-seven (11.7%) had adequate knowledge about the risk factors, complications, and management of diabetes. Eating supper after 7 p.m. [adjusted odds ratio = 3.77, 95% confidence interval (1.70-8.37), p = 0.001] significantly increased one's risk of having dyslipidemia by 3.8-fold compared to eating supper earlier (before 5 p.m.). Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is increasing among T2DM patients in both urban and rural areas and it's independently influenced by eating supper after 7 p.m. Most participants were ignorant of the risk factors, complications, and management of diabetes. Adjusting eating habits and increasing diabetes awareness programs to sensitize the general public can mitigate the increasing prevalence of dyslipidemia in both urban and rural areas.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Data on cancers is a challenge in most developing countries. Population-based cancer registries are also not common in developing countries despite the usefulness of such registries in informing cancer prevention and control programmes. The availability of population-based data on cancers in Africa varies across different countries. In Ghana, data and research on cancer have focussed on specific cancers and have been hospital-based with no reference population. The Kumasi Cancer Registry was established as the first population-based cancer registry in Ghana in 2012 to provide information on cancer cases seen in the city of Kumasi. METHODS: This paper reviews data from the Kumasi Cancer Registry for the year 2012. The reference geographic area for the registry is the city of Kumasi as designated by the 2010 Ghana Population and Housing Census. Data was from all clinical departments of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Pathology Laboratory Results, Death Certificates and the Kumasi South Regional Hospital. Data was abstracted and entered into Canreg 5 database. Analysis was conducted using Canreg 5, Microsoft Excel and Epi Info Version 7.1.2.0. RESULTS: The majority of cancers were recorded among females accounting for 69.6% of all cases. The mean age at diagnosis for all cases was 51.6 years. Among males, the mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 compared with 53.0 years for females. The commonest cancers among males were cancers of the Liver (21.1%), Prostate (13.2%), Lung (5.3%) and Stomach (5.3%). Among females, the commonest cancers were cancers of the Breast (33.9%), Cervix (29.4%), Ovary (11.3%) and Endometrium (4.5%). Histology of the primary tumour was the basis of diagnosis in 74% of cases with clinical and other investigations accounting for 17% and 9% respectively. The estimated cancer incidence Age Adjusted Standardised Rate for males was 10.9/100,000 and 22.4/100, 000 for females. CONCLUSION: This first attempt at population-based cancer registration in Ghana indicates that such registries are feasible in resource limited settings as ours. Strengthening Public Health Surveillance and establishing more Population-based Cancer Registries will help improve data quality and national efforts at cancer prevention and control in Ghana.
