THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS AND PREVALENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING SELECTED HOSPITALS IN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a silent killer and one of the leading causes of death globally, with complications affecting multiple organ systems, yet population-based studies remain scarce in Nigeria, particularly in northern regions where health-seeking behaviour is limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the correlation between socio-demographics and prevalence of diabetes mellitus among 300 patients attending Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and blood glucose testing using a glucometer and analysed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression. The majority of participants were aged 41-60 years (40.7%), female (56.0%) and had secondary or tertiary education (88.3%), with civil servants (35.7%), business owners (25.0%) and housewives (24.0%) constituting the largest occupational groups, while 96.7% were classified as overweight or obese. Age and Body Mass Index had a high extent of influence on diabetes prevalence, while sex showed a low extent of influence and smoking behaviour, alcohol intake and consumption of fatty food were identified as high-risk factors. Engagement in regular exercise, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables were reported as no risks, indicating physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are prevalent. This study confirms a substantial burden of diabetes mellitus among patients attending hospitals in Kano Metropolis, driven primarily by obesity and lifestyle factors, with the high proportion of undiagnosed cases. This highlights the urgent need for community-based screening programmes targeting middle-aged adults, as well as public health interventions promoting lifestyle modification. The capacity-load model illuminates the interaction between declining metabolic capacity and escalating metabolic load; it also suggests that the epidemic is not merely a health crisis but a development crisis demanding comprehensive approaches that address the social, economic and environmental determinants of disease alongside clinical management.