Volume 16, Number 10—October 2010
Dispatch
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Increased Risk for Malaria Infection
Ina Danquah, George Bedu-Addo, and Frank P. Mockenhaupt
Table 1
Demographic and clinical characteristics of 1,466 urban residents of Kumasi, Ghana, 2007–2008*
| Characteristics | Persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus, n = 675 | Persons without diabetes, n = 791 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, mean (range) | 54.7 (18–92) | 47.1 (18–100) | <0.0001 |
| Male gender | 171 (25.3) | 182 (23.0) | 0.299 |
| Wealth score <25th percentile† | 265 (39.6) | 271 (34.3) | 0.044 |
| Illiteracy | 308 (45.8) | 206 (26.1) | <0.0001 |
| Formal education, none | 240 (35.7) | 130 (16.5) | <0.0001 |
| Crowded living condition‡ | 177 (26.7) | 120 (15.3) | <0.0001 |
| Smoking, current or quit | 49 (7.3) | 35 (4.4) | 0.024 |
| Akan ethnicity |
592 (87.8) |
685 (86.6) |
0.480 |
| Residence | |||
| Kumasi metropolitan area | 476 (70.8) | 603 (76.2) | |
| Kumasi suburbs | 174 (25.9) | 162 (20.5) | |
| Els3where§ |
22 (3.3) |
26 (3.3) |
0.048 |
| Occupation | |||
| Public servant | 44 (6.5) | 194 (24.6) | |
| Trader | 198 (29.5) | 190 (24.1) | |
| Farmer | 65 (9.7) | 48 (6.1) | |
| Unemployed | 248 (36.9) | 138 (17.5) | |
| Other¶ |
117 (17.4) |
218 (27.7) |
<0.0001 |
| FPG, mmol/L, mean (range) | 8.3 (1.3–37.1) | 4.5 (2.9–7.0) | <0.0001 |
| Hemoglobin, g/dL, mean (range) | 12.9 (5.8–19.1) | 13.6 (4.9–19.1) | <0.0001 |
| Fever, >37.5°C | 2 (0.3) | 4 (0.5) | 0.693 |
| History of fever, preceding week |
95 (14.1) |
93 (11.8) |
0.182 |
| Respiratory tract infection | 5 (0.7) | 11 (1.4) | 0.232 |
| Urinary tract infection# |
14 (2.1) |
7 (0.9) |
0.076 |
| Plasmodium spp. infection, by microscopy | 5 (0.7) | 8 (1.0) | 0.582 |
| Parasite density, per µL, median (range) |
1,160 (160–2,480) |
860 (80–4,960) |
0.770 |
| Plasmodium spp. infection, by PCR | |||
| Plasmodium spp. | 117 (17.4) | 89 (11.3) | 0.001 |
| P. falciparum | 108 (16.0) | 81 (10.3) | 0.001 |
| P. malariae | 14 (2.1) | 9 (1.1) | 0.205 |
| P. ovale | 8 (1.2) | 7 (0.9) | 0.611 |
*Values are no. (%) unless otherwise indicated. p values were calculated by Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher exact test, as applicable. FPG, fasting plasma glucose concentration.
†<25th percentile of a calculated index of 11 markers of wealth: electricity, pipe-borne water, radio, fan, cupboard, television, bicycle, motorbike, refrigerator, car/truck/tractor, cattle.
‡>75th percentile of the number of persons living in the household.
§Hinterland and environs.
¶Includes casual laborer, artisan, and others.
#By nitrite-positive urine dipstick test (Combur 10, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany).
Page created: September 07, 2011
Page updated: September 07, 2011
Page reviewed: September 07, 2011
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