Background: Chronic complications
reduce quality of life, increases diabetes related mortality and overburden the
public health services. This study aims to assess the prevalence of chronic complications
and its associated factors among diabetic patients at Nigist Eleni Mohammed
Memorial Hospital, Hossana, South Ethiopia.
Method and Materials: We conducted a hospital based cross-sectional
study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 266 participants
from the follow up clinic of the hospital. Data were collected using semi structured
questionnaire, weight, height, waist and hip circumference measurements and
patients chart review. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study
variable. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to
identify factors associated with chronic diabetic complications. Result: Out of 247 diabetic
subjects, 114 (46.2%) were found to have at least one chronic complication that
included, hypertension
59 (23.9%), diabetes related eye disease 29 (11.7%), neuropathy 25 (10.1%) and
nephropathy 16 (6.5%). Compared to age group 15 - 29 there was higher risk of
chronic complications for those who were in age groups 45 - 64, [AOR = 2.50, (95% CI):
(1.20, 5.22)] and ≥65 years, [AOR = 7.18, (95% CI): (2.10, 24.87)]. Duration of diabetes
> 10 years
[AOR = 2.87, (95% CI): (1.20, 6.88)], and not performing self-monitoring of blood
glucose, [AOR
= 15.22, (95% CI): (3.07, 75.48)] were also strongly associated with chronic
complications of diabetes mellitus. Conclusion and Recommendation: Considerable
number of diabetic participants in this study area had at least one chronic complication.
Attention should be given to older diabetic patients and longer diabetic duration.
Diabetic education should focus on health benefit of self-monitoring of blood
glucose.