Introduction & Objective: Incident diabetes mellitus (DM) cases are increasing in urban settings in Uganda. Commercial eye centers are potential options to improve DM detection in urban populations. This study aimed to determine the factors independently associated with DM in an eyecare seeking population in commercial eye centers in Kampala, Uganda.
Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 501 consecutively recruited clients attending four private ophthalmology centres in Kampala, Uganda in June 2022. Our outcome was presence of DM measured using random blood sugar tests ≥7 mmol/L (yes) vs <7mmol/L (no). Modified Poisson regression assessed factors independently associated with DM in this study population. Adjusted prevalence rate ratios (PRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.
Results: Among 501 participants, 31.7% (n=159) had DM and 7.4% (n=37) had pre-DM. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants were more likely to be diabetic; (i) 37% times higher among those who have never taken an A1C compared to those who ever had A1C tests (adjusted PRR 0.63, 95%CI 0.48-0.83), (ii) 46% times higher among those who never tested for DM compared to those who had ever tested for DM (adjusted PRR 0.54, 95%CI 0.38-0.75), and (iii) 45% times higher among participants who were aware of DM than those aware of DM (adjusted PRR 0.54, 95%CI 0.38-0.75)
Conclusion: Increasing symptom awareness and testing for DM suggests improvement in DM detection among urban eyecare seeking populations in Kampala. DM awareness and early DM treatment initiation are potential opportunities for future research and practice.
P.N. Kaganda: None. R. Anguzu: None. A. Kiconco: None. J.N. Mutyoba: None.
