# A multi-centre investigation of macrovascular and non-ocular microvascular complications in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus in southern Ghana

## TL;DR

This study examines how common heart and nerve/kidney complications are in children and teens with diabetes in Ghana and finds they are linked to factors like diabetes duration and cholesterol levels.

## Contribution

The study is the first to report on macrovascular and non-ocular microvascular complications in pediatric diabetes patients in southern Ghana.

## Key findings

- Macrovascular complications occurred in 27.6% of participants, while non-ocular microvascular complications occurred in 8.6%.
- Longer diabetes duration and low triglycerides were linked to microvascular complications.
- High triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and abnormal BMI were associated with macrovascular complications.

## Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of macrovascular and non-ocular microvascular complications and the associated factors among children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus in selected hospitals in southern Ghana.

A cross-sectional study.

The out-patient clinics of the Departments of Child Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, Family Medicine, Ophthalmology, and the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre, all at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, as well as from Cape-Coast Teaching Hospital in the Central Region of Ghana.

Fifty-eight children and adolescents aged 4-19 years who had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Macrovascular (peripheral artery disease and coronary heart disease) and non-ocular microvascular complications (neuropathy and nephropathy).

Data from 58 children and adolescents with diabetes were analysed. The mean age of participants was 14.6±2.6 years, and a female preponderance was observed (45, 77.6%). The prevalence of macrovascular and non-ocular microvascular complications was 27.6% and 8.6%, respectively. Long duration of diabetes diagnosis (p=0.044) and low triglycerides (p=0.009) were associated with microvascular complications, while high triglycerides (p=0.032), lower HDL cholesterol (p=0.046), and abnormal body mass index (p=0.020) were associated with macrovascular complications.

Macrovascular and non-ocular microvascular complications are common among children and adolescents with diabetes in southern Ghana and are associated with a long duration of diabetes diagnosis, abnormal body mass index, low HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Therefore, the early institution of regular screening for diabetes-related complications to allow early detection and appropriate management is recommended.

University of Ghana Research Fund