Prevalence and factors associated with hyperglycaemia among children under-five years of age at holy innocents childrens’ hospital, mbarara district, south-western Uganda

Abstract

Background: Childhood hyperglycaemia is a critical observation because of its links to complications ranging from prolonged hospitalisation to mortality. This study reports the prevalence, clinical patterns and factors associated with hyperglycaemia among children under-five years of age at Holy Innocents Children's’ Hospital (HICH), Mbarara in south-western Uganda. Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study conducted during the period between April to July 2017. The study enrolled children under-five years attending outpatients department (OPD) whose caregivers had consented. Random blood glucose levels, height and weight of children were taken; in addition, a structured questionnaire was administered. Results: We enrolled 284 children, of whom, 40.3% (n=114) were aged between 12 to 23 months (mean age: 24.6 months, median age: 9.7 months; IQR: 5.8–46.8 months). There were 124 boys (43.7%). Thirty-nine participants were hyperglycaemic, giving a prevalence of 13.7%, (95% Confidence Interval: 8.4-18.2), with varied clinical patterns. Obese children were six times more likely to be hyperglycaemic (P=0.000). Although those who were overweight did not show statistical significance of hyperglycaemia, they were four times more at risk. Conclusion: Childhood hyperglycemia is highly prevalent in this setting, with the majority of the affected cases being unknown to both health workers and the caregivers. This impedes their medical intervention and also inclines to very poor glycaemic control. This compels the need to regularly monitor glucose levels to subside preventable deaths.