Abstract:

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is an increasing public health burden associated with increase morbidity and mortality among adults and is a risk factors for the development of Atrial Fibrillation. When these two conditions coexist, they confer an increased risk of symptom burden and increased mortality. In our setting prevalence, and associated factors of atrial fibrillation among adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has not been studied.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of atrial fibrillation among adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus attending outpatient clinic at Bugando Medical Centre.

Methodology: Hospital based cross-sectional study conducted between 2nd April 2022 to 30th June 2022 at Bugando Medical Centre medical Outpatient clinic. A total of 215 patients were enrolled after meeting the inclusion criteria. Structured questionnaires were used to capture social demographic and clinical information including glycated hemoglobin levels, duration of diabetes, type of hypoglycemic, BMI, Waist to hip ratio, egfr and history of hypertension. All participants underwent a resting 12-lead ECG for assessment of atrial fibrillation. Data was analyzed by the use of STATA software version 15.

Results: Among 215 participants, 6.1% (n=13) of T2DM patients had AF, and the factors associated were egfr < 60ml/min/1.7m2 (OR 5.49; 95% CI 1.1-27.3, p=0.037) and use of metformin (OR 0.02; 95% CI 0.0004-0.9, p=0.045). BMI and hypertension were not associated with AF.

Conclusion: AF has been shown to be prevalent among T2DM patients attending at Bugando Medical Centre, since low egfr≤60ml/min/1.73m2 has been shown to be a significant risk factor for the development AF, these patients should undergo routine ECG screening for AF.