Chronic Complications of Diabetes in Iraq: Experience from Southern Iraq

Abstract

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of chronic complications in type 2 diabetic patients in Basrah (Southern Iraq). Methods This was a longitudinal descriptive study for patients with diabetes registered in Al-Faiha Diabetes and Endocrine Centre in Basrah (Southern Iraq) for the period from April 2003 to end of February 2009. Results Out of 4,926 patients enrolled, 51.0% were women, mean age was 55.0 ± 13.1 years and 67.6% were overweight or obese. Those with duration of diabetes more than 5 years constituted 50.6% and only 25.3% were on insulin. Mean Hemoglobin A1C was 9.3 ± 2.0. The prevalence of the 16 complications studied were as follows: Hypertension in 31.0%, peripheral neuropathy in 13.8%, ischemic heart disease in 7.8%, proteinuria in 6.6%, cereberovascular accident in 4.6%, interdigital fungal infection in 4.3%, heart failure in 3.4%, and erectile dysfunction in 6.0%. In this study 2.8% of patients died of cardiovascular causes, 2.7% developed diabetic foot, 2.4% had non-alcoholic fatty liver, 0.7% had amputation, 0.4% developed ophthalmoplegia, 0.2% had peripheral vascular disease, and 0.04% developed mucormycosis. The chronic complications which were more seen in those with diabetes more than 5 years were hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, proteinuria, cereberovascular accident, heart failure, erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular death, diabetic foot, amputation and peripheral vascular disease. Conclusion This study provided the baseline for chronic complications of diabetes in Iraq. Screening for early complications is recommended.