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Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes among hypertensive patients attending Kiambu district Hospital, Kenya: a cross-sectional study

Introduction Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are closely linked: one cannot be properly managed without attention to the other. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetic and pre-diabetic states that is abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) and factors associated with it among hypertensive patients in Kiambu Hospital, Kenya. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from February 2014 to April 2014. Hypertensive patients aged ≥18 attending the out-patient medical clinic were included in the study. Pregnant and known diabetic patients were excluded. Data was collected on socio-demographics, behavior, and anthropometrics. Diabetes status was based on a Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1C) classification of ≥6.5% for diabetes, 6.0-6.4% for pre-diabetes and ≤6.0% for normal. AGR was the dependable variable and included two diabetic categories; diabetes and pre-diabetes. Results We enrolled 334 patients into the study: the mean age was 59 years (Standard deviation= 14.3). Of these patients 254 (76%) were women. Thirty two percent (107/334; 32%) were found to have AGR, with 14% (46) having un-diagnosed DM and 18%(61) with pre-diabetes. Factors associated with AGR were age ≥45 (OR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.37 ≥ 7.62), basal metabolic index (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2 (OR= 3.13; 95% CI 1.53 - 6.41), low formal education (primary/none)(OR= 2; 95%CI 1.08 - 3.56) and family history of DM (OR = 2.19; 95%CI 1.16 - 4.15). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of undiagnosed AGR among hypertensive patients. This highlights the need to regularly screen for AGR among hypertensive patients as recommended by WHO.


Introduction
In 2012 non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were responsible for 68% of deaths globally and almost three quarters of these deaths (28 million), occurred in low-and middle-income countries [1]. It is well known that hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two common NCDs that are closely linked: one cannot be properly managed without attention to the other [2][3][4]. The presence of hypertension substantially increases the risk of morbidity from several diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases andDM.
Therefore targeted screening for identification of risk factors, early detection and timely treatment can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality related to these NCDs [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that patients presenting with HTN should have a cardiovascular risk assessment, including blood glucose testing [1,4].
Majority of diabetic patients go through a pre-diabetes phase for several years [5][6][7][8], during which there is an opportunity to identify them and initiate timely prevention. Pre-diabetes is an intermittent stage of overt diabetes where the blood glucose level is higher than the normal value but not high enough to meet the criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus [7,9]. It is characterized by a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of 6.1-6.9mmol/l and/or from an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) as a 2-hour post-load plasma glucose level of 7.8-11mmo/l (Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) [10] or glycated haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level of 5.7-6.4% [11] or 6.1 -6.4% [12][13][14]. Pre-diabetes increases the risk of diabetes mellitus in hypertensive patients and both undiagnosed pre-diabetes and diabetes are associated with diabetic complications [15,16].
Abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) is a term used to definethe two glycometabolic states, that is diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes [7].
In most studies AGR assessment is based on random blood sugar, FPG, OGTT. However, studies have shown that use of HbA1c is a convenient alternative test [17][18][19] as it is highly standardized, exhibits low intra-individual variation, can be obtained at any time, requires no patient preparation, and samples are relatively stable at room temperature after collection [20,21]. There is also a strong correlation between average plasma glucoseand HbA1C in predicting diabetes development in patients with cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and stroke [22][23][24][25][26][27].
According to WHO recommendations hypertensive patients are to undergo diabetes screening based on their risk profile [28]. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that adults at normal risk for diabetes undergo screening every 3 years and adults at high-risk based on a family history of the disease, hypertension, overweight or obesity, or other factors of diabetes undergo screening every 1 to 2 years [29]. However the optimal universally acceptable interval for diabetes screening of healthy adults or adults with hypertension or hyperlipidemia is not known according the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) [30]. Clinical judgment and risk profile of the patientshould determine when to screen individual patients for diabetes [29,30]. One-third of all people with diabetes may be undiagnosed and more than 60% of newly diagnosed diabetics are unaware of their condition until complications appear [3,[31][32][33]. According to data from the 2011  [34].
There is scarcity of documented data on prevalence of AGR among high risk groups, such as hypertensive patients in clinical settings in Kenya. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetic and pre-diabetic states and factors associated with AGR among hypertensive patients in Kiambu Hospital, Kenya.

Study population and participant selection
Hypertensive patients aged 18 years and above who were not known diabetic patients attending an out-patient medical clinic were included in the study. Pregnant and known diabetic patients were excluded from the study. Eligible participants were asked to participate in the study as they visited the medical out-patient clinic.

Sample size calculation and sampling
Using the Cochran formula [36] our calculated sample size was 334 hypertensive patients, assuming a 74% prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes among the hypertensive patients [35] with a 95% confidence intervaland 10% adjustment for non-response.
Patientswereselected usingsystematic sampling, with every third hypertensive patient enrolled into the study.

Data collection and study variables
We utilized a structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPS instrument for collecting surveillance data for noncommunicable diseases (NCD's) for this study [37]. The questionnaire was pre-tested and administered by a trained medical healthworker. Social demographics and behaviouralvariables such as age, sex, level of education, occupation, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity and diet were collected.Physical activity was assessed by asking participants if they undertook "vigorous-intensity activities" (e.g.lifting heavy loads, cutting firewood, digging, construction work, etc) and "moderate-intensity activities" (e.g. brisk walking, carrying light loads, milking cows, washing clothes, riding a bicycle, light recreational activities,etc)in a typicalweek. Pictorial showcards were used to describe these activities to participants. Time spent on these activities in a typical week was recorded. Participants were classified into those that met the WHO minimum recommendations for physical activity (at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, or 150 minutes of moderateintensityactivities per week) and those that did not [38]. In addition, history of anti-hypertensive medication, prior diabetes evaluation and family history of DM among the 1st degree relatives, [39] was collected. The outcome variable was AGR.
Physical assessments included blood pressure, height, weight, waist and hip circumference measurements and calculation of body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio, as detailed in a study by Ayah et al [40]. Body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight (kg)/height (m 2 ) was used as a measure of total body obesity: BMI<18. Measurements were made to the nearest 0.5 kg [40].
Blood pressure (BP) was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer blood pressure device (Reisterdiplomat-presameter®). The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee guideline for hypertension measurement and management was used [41]. Three intermittent readings were taken with the BP machine cut-off points with high specificity and sensitivity for pre-diabetes screening [12,13,32]. HbA1C was grouped into diabetic HbA1c ≥6.5 %, pre-diabetic HbA1c of 6.1 % -6.4% and non-diabetic HbA1c <6.1%. AGR included two categories 1) those with diabetes (participants with HbA1c ≥6.5 %) and 2) those with pre-diabetes (participants with a HbA1c of 6.1 % -6.4%).

Data management and analysis
Data was entered into version 3.5.4 of Epi-Info (CDC, Atlanta, USA) and analysed. Specific descriptive variables were analysedusing frequencies, proportions and means to describe the socialbehavioural and clinical characteristics. Bivariate analysis using Chisquare testwere performed. Bivariate and multivariable analysis using logistic regressionwas used to explore the factors associated with AGR. An association was considered significant at P<0.05and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Variables that had a P value ≤0.2 at bivariate level were included in the multivaria blelogistic analysis model with backward elimination to find independent factors that were associated with AGR.

Ethical considerations
The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Ethical Review Committee and administrative clearance sought from Kiambu District Hospital administration. We obtained written informed consent from each study participant after giving a detailed explanation of the purpose, risks and benefits of the study. Participants were contacted and given their results. Those with an AGR category of newly diagnosed diabetes were referred to the diabetic clinic for further management and follow-up while those with pre-diabetes were put on lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of progression to diabetes.  15) were significantly associated with AGR, Table 3.

Discussion
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetic and pre-diabetic states and factors associated with AGR among out-patient hypertensive patients in a clinical setting in Kenya. More than a third (32%) of the study participants had AGR Page number not for citation purposes 5 i.e. diabetes and pre-diabetes. Fourteen percent were newly diagnosed with DM, while 18% were pre-diabetic. Sixty eight percent of the participants reported ever been screened for DM in the hypertension clinic. Risk factors for AGR were being 45 years and above, BMI>25 kg/m 2 , low formal education and history of familial diabetes. Controlled blood pressure reduced the risk of developing AGR.
Our study found a high prevalence of AGR (diabetes and prediabetes) among hypertensive patients in the clinical setting. This is higher than population based studies previously done in Kenya which have a prevalence rangeof 3.3%to 6% [40,42].  [34]. The Euro Heart Survey on diabetes and the heart demonstrated that AGR is more common than normal glucose metabolism in patients with coronary artery diseases and hypertension as 36% had pre-diabetes and 22% had newly detected diabetes [43]. In Germany, Luders et al found out of 260 hypertensive patients 39% had impaired glucose tolerance and 12% had diabetes mellitus [44].
Our findings show that AGR is significantlyassociated with age over 45 years and BMI above 25. Similar findings of high BMI and older age were demonstrated in parts of the world such as Nigeria [5], Uganda [6,35] and in Germany [44]. Having a low level of education was associated with AGRin our study. In European countries with lower levels of education have been used as predictors of DM as this is comparable and similar to social economic status [45][46][47]. Our study showed that a family history of diabetes was also a risk factor for glucose intolerance among In contrast tobacco use, alcohol use and inadequate physical activity were not associated with AGR in our study and could be due to the small sample size of the study. The study found that tobacco use and harmful alcohol use was not common practice among the study participants as 97% did not smoke tobacco, 89% had never smoked tobacco in the past and 70% had never consumed alcohol. This finding in variation may have been due to the sample size and the fact that our study subjects were skewed towards a predominantly female population.
There is evidence that the prevalence of AGR is high among hypertensive patients with specific risk factors, therefore a strong justification for use of targeted diabetic screening as it offers the patients and healthcare providers an opportunity to modify longterm risk before serious complications occur [6,8,48,49]. Patients with newly diagnosed DM will benefit from proper glycemic control and reduction of complications and those with pre-diabetes will benefit from strategies tailored to prevent or retard onset of diabetes This also reduces the health costs associated with management of their hypertensive condition and possible concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus [5,6]. Though WHO recommends that patients with HTN be screened for diabetes, there are no guidelines on how this screening should be carried out.
Specifically, how often they should be screened and criteria for risk groups to be targeted. Therefore, there is need for the Ministry of Health to develop guidelines to guide frontline health workers on how to implement screening for DM and among patients with HTN in order to achieve early diagnosis and timely treatment/interventions to be able to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Limitations are that the study findings can't be generalized to the population as this was a hospital based cross-sectional study. The study didn't collect information on the duration of hypertension diagnosis and the specific antihypertensive medication used by participants. It is known that various antihypertensive drugs have different effects on glucose metabolism such as thiazide diuretics and B blockers [50,51]. However a study in Nigeria showed that anti-hypertensive drugs that affected glucose metabolism didn't significantly affect the prevalence of pre-diabetic states in hypertensive patients [5,52]. The study findings would have been

Conclusion
There was a high prevalence of undiagnosed AGR among hypertensive patients on follow-up. This highlights the need to regularly screen for AGR among hypertensive patients as recommended by WHO [28]. Using targeted screening based on risk profile to determine diabetic status offers patients and healthcare providers an opportunity to modify long-term risk before serious complications occur.There is need to have clear guidelines to health workers on how screening for AGR can be implemented.

Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.