Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus cases are at
higher risk for diabetic related complications. In low-income
African countries, patients with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus
account for 75% of diabetes cases. Psychiatric disorders have a
greater impact on the global burden of diseases and disability
associated with chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus and
cardiovascular diseases.
METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted
at the University of Gondar Hospital from February to April 2016.
A total of 205 psychiatric patients aged above 15 years that were
taking antipsychotic were included by the simple random sampling
method. Fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol level
were determined from venous blood samples to evaluate diabetes
mellitus based on WHO criteria.
RESULTS: Among 205 psychiatric patients taking antipsychotics,
15(7.3%) had undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Duration of
antipsychotic treatment and sex had a statistically significant
association with the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus.
As the duration of antipsychotic drug treatment increased by one
year, the risk of having a diabetes mellitus increase by 1.47 times
(AOR: 1.47 CI: 1.021-2.125).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus
among psychiatry patients taking antipsychotics was higher than
the estimated diabetes national prevalence of Ethiopia. Screening
of diabetes mellitus in particular, patients having a longer
duration of antipsychotic treatment is mandatory to bring more
undiagnosed cases for medical attention
