Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes is a public health problem and one of the most common life threatening conditions globally, due
to its related complications that are usually very costly to treat, with increasing number of people being diagnosed with this
condition each year. Presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risks in Type 2 Diabetes patients increases
the risk to complications. The objective of this study was to determine characteristics of type 2 diabetes patients and their
association with MetS and associated cardiovascular risk. The study employed a cross section design method. Subjects with
Type 2 Diabetes were recruited for the study from Thika Level Five Hospital in Kenya. Socio-demographic, clinical and
lifestyle data were obtained using questionnaires. The nutrition status was determined by anthropometry. Other laboratory
parameters that were determined included total cholesterol (TC), high density cholesterol (HDL-c) and low density cholesterol
(LDL-c), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C), and blood pressure (BP). Overall
153 (40.5% men and 59.5% women) Type 2 diabetic patients aged 20-79 years were included in the study. The overall mean
age of patients was 56.07 years. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 86.3% as per WHO criteria. The MetS
components were elevated waist circumference (WC, 90.8%), increased waist hip ratio (WHR, 86.9%), elevated blood
pressure (65.7% & 72.5%) and elevated triglycerides (64.8%). The prevalence of occurrence of the components of the MetS
was not significantly different among male and female patients except for WC, BMI and reduced serum HDL-C where women
were at a significantly higher risk than men (P≤0.00.). The current study showed that income was associated with elevated
diastolic blood pressure (BP), secondary education and years lived with diabetes were associated with elevated TG, while
occupation showed some association with high WHR. Additionally Gender, marital status and type of residence were
associated with elevated HDL while education, family history of diabetes and alcohol intake was associated with obesity. The
prevalence of the MetS and associated cardiovascular risk among Type 2 Diabetes patients was high and similar among males
and females. Enhanced surveillance on Mets and associated cardiovascular risk in Type 2 Diabetes in addition to application of
preventive measures are critical in order to reduce the risk of macro vascular complications as well as increased cardiovascular
risks in Type 2 Diabetes patients.
