Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Uganda—A Descriptive Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objectives To assess the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Uganda. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting This study was conducted in the outpatient’s T2DM clinic in St. Francis Hospital—Nsambya, Uganda between March and May 2017. Participants Type 2 diabetes patients registered in the diabetes clinic between July 2003 and September 2016. Outcome measures Overweight and obesity defined as body mass index (kg/m2) of 25.0–29.9 and obesity as 30.0 or higher. Results Of 1275T2DM patients, the median age was 54 (IQR: 44–65) years, 770 (60.40%) were females, 887 (69.6%) had hypertension, 385 (28%) had controlled glycaemia, 349 (27%) were obese, while 455 (36%) were overweight. Overweight/obesity were lower among men (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.340 to 0.593, p≤0.001) and among patients aged ≥65 years (OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.350 to 0.770, p=0.001); patients who rarely ate fruits and vegetables (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.475 to 0.921, p=0.014) but higher among patients of middle (OR: 1.83, 95%CI: 1.320 to 2.550, p≤0.001) and upper (OR: 2.10, 95%CI: 1.450 to 2.990, p≤0.001) socioeconomic status; on dual therapy (OR: 2.17, 95%CI: 1.024 to 4.604, p=0.043); with peripheral neuropathy (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.039 to 1.834, p=0.026) and hypertension (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.264 to 2.293, p≤0.001). Conclusions Overweight and obesity are high among T2DM patients in this population and may contribute significantly to poor outcomes of T2DM. Therefore, strategies to address this problem are urgently needed.