Seasonality in diabetes in Yaounde, Cameroon: a relation with precipitation and temperature.
Diabetes is a growing health concern in developing countries, with Cameroon population having an estimated 6% affected. Of note, hospital attendees appear to be increasing all over the country, with fluctuating numbers throughout the annual calendar. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between diabete hospitalization admission rates and climate variations in Yaounde.



A retrospectively designed study was conducted in four health facilities of Yaounde (Central Hospital, University teaching hospital, Biyem-Assi and Djoungolo District Hospitals), using medical records from 2000 to 2008. A relationship between diabetes (newly diagnosed diabetes patients or decompensated diabetics) hospitalization admissions and climate variations was determined using the "2000-2008" national meteorological database (precipitation and temperature).



The monthly medians of precipitation and temperature were 154mm and 25 °C, respectively. The month of October received 239mm of precipitation. The monthly medians of diabetic admissions rates (newly diagnosed or decompensated diabetes patients) were 262 and 72 respectively. October received 366 newly diagnosed diabetics and 99 decompensated diabetics. Interestingly, diabetic hospitalization admissions rates were higher during the rainy (51 %, 1633/3232) than the dry season, though the difference was non-significant. The wettest month (October) reported the highest cases (10 %, 336/3232) corresponding to the month with the highest precipitation level (239mm). Diabetes hospitalization admissions rates varied across health facilities [from 6 % (189/3232) in 2000 to 15 % (474/3232) in 2008].



Diabetes is an important epidemiological disease in the city of Yaounde. The variation in the prevalence of diabetes is almost superimposed to that of precipitation; and the prevalence seems increasing during raining seasons in Yaoundé.
Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Eric
E
Lontchi-Yimagou
Departement of Geography, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Maurice
M
Tsalefac
Departement of Geography, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Leonelle Monique Teuwa
LM
Tapinmene
Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Medical Diagnostic Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Jean Jacques N
JJ
Noubiap
Diabetes Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Brussels Free University, Brussels, Belgium.
Eric Vounsia
EV
Balti
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University Paris-Diderot Paris-7, Paris, France.
Jean-Louis
JL
Nguewa
National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Mesmin
M
Dehayem
Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. sobngwieugene@yahoo.fr.|National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. sobngwieugene@yahoo.fr.|Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. sobngwieugene@yahoo.fr.
Eugene
E
Sobngwi
D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D015995:Prevalence; D011891:Rain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
Cameroon; Diabetes; Seasons; Sub-Saharan Africa; Yaounde