title: Vitamin B12 deficiency among adult diabetic patients in Uganda: relation to glycaemic control and haemoglobin concentration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent among adult individuals with diabetes yet screening is infrequent in Uganda. There are currently no published data regarding the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among adult individuals with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at describing the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin B12 deficiency among this patient population in a resource constrained setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 280 eligible study participants attending the outpatient diabetic clinic at Mulago national referral and teaching hospital in Kampala, Uganda were enrolled. Their socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the study participants were female (68.9 %), with a median age of 50 (IQR: 40-58) years. The mean (SD) serum vitamin B12 levels was 472.0 (16.4) pg/ml. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 10.7 %. Hemoglobin level < 12 g/dl (AOR 3.38; 95 % CI 1.38-8.32, p value = 0.008) and glycated hemoglobin ≥ 7 % (AOR 3.29; 1.44-7.51, p value = 0.005) were associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in approximately 1 in 10 of adult individuals with diabetes in Uganda. We recommend screening for vitamin B12 deficiency among diabetic patients in Uganda especially those with low hemoglobin concentrations and glycated hemoglobin levels ≥ 7 %.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: George Patrick
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Akabwai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine/Diabetic and Hypertension Clinics, Our Lady of Consolata Hospital Kisubi, Wakiso, Uganda.
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kibirige
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Levi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mugenyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaddu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Rejani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalitha
authors.affiliation: Diabetes/Endocrine Unit, Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Edrisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajatovic
keywords: Adults; Africa; Black; Individuals with diabetes; Uganda; Vitamin B12 deficiency