Abstract:
Background: Diabetes is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which leads over
time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes mellitus
leads to acute and chronic complications. In Ethiopia the National NCD survey showed up to
84% of individuals with diabetes remained undiagnosed. Among identified cases as having DM
and received treatment, only 24% achieved blood sugar control. Objective: To identify determinants of diabetic complications among adult diabetic patients in St
Paul Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2024, from March 1-30, 2024. Methods: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study design was used. Systematic random
sampling was applied to select study participants. Three hundred and forty patients were
included, of which 83 cases and 255 control. Interviewer-administered questioning was
conducted with pre-tested questioners from March 1-30, 2024. Data were interred to SPSS 27. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Bivariable binary logistic regression was
done to determine which variable is a candidate for multivariable binary logistic regression. An
adjusted odd ratio with a 95 % confidence interval was used to show the relationship between the
dependent and independent variables. Finally, variables having p-values <0.05 were declared as
significant variables for determining diabetic complications. Result: All patients approached for the questionnaire were willing to participate in the study
which resulted in a 100% respondent rate. Six variables have been identified as a determinant
factor for the development of diabetic complications which are ; poor medication adherence
(AOR=4.858 ; CI 95%(1.460-16.168) , not measuring blood glucose at home (AOR=5.837; CI
95% (1.35-25.10), BMI 18.5-25 (AOR= 0.50; CI 95% (0.007-0.373), unable to read and write
(AOR: 6.88 ; CI 95% (1.262-37.531), poor glycemic control (AOR= 6.38; CI 95% (1.46-27.9)
and not preparing food according doctor’s recommendation (AOR=5.206 CI 95% (2.185-12.41)
Conclusion: This study has found glycemic control, medication adherence, preparing food
according to doctor’s recommendation, level of education, BMI and measuring blood glucose at
home to be a significant determinant of diabetes complications.
