title: Type 2 diabetes control and complications in specialised diabetes care centres of six sub-Saharan African countries: the Diabcare Africa study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Diabcare Africa project was carried out across six sub-Saharan African countries to collect standardised and comparable information for the evaluation of diabetes control, management and late complications in diabetic populations at specialist clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive study of 2352 type-2 diabetes patients who were treated at specialist clinics for at least 12 months prior to the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 53.0±16.0 years and had 8.0±6.0 years known duration of diabetes. 47% had their HbA1c assessed in the past year (mean 8.2±2.4%) with 29% achieving a level <6.5%. 21% had BP within 130/80 mmHg and 65% were treated for hypertension. Fasting lipids were assessed in 45% of the patients with mean cholesterol level of 4.9±1.2 mmol/L, HDL-cholesterol of 1.3±0.7 mmol/L and triglycerides of 1.2±0.7 mmol/L. 13% of the patients were treated for hyperlipidaemia, mostly with statins. Background retinopathy (18%) and cataract (14%) were the most common eye complications. Macrovascular disease was rare, and 48% had neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Half of the patients benefitted from standard care, and a third had appropriate glycaemic control - attributed to access to, rather than quality of care. This study provided evidence to support appropriate interventions to diabetic populations of sub-Saharan origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. eugene.sobngwi@newcastle.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sobngwi
authors.forename: Maimouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndour-Mbaye
authors.forename: Kofi A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Boateng
authors.forename: Kaushik L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ramaiya
authors.forename: Eva W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Njenga
authors.forename: Said N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mbanya
authors.forename: Augustine E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ohwovoriole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000628:therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin