Adults with type 2 diabetes attending primary health care clinics in North Central Nigeria had a high burden of cardiometabolic abnormalities, with 84.8% having at least one abnormal component, highlighting the need for integrated diabetes management strategies.
Key Findings
Results
The large majority of adults with type 2 diabetes in primary health care settings had at least one cardiometabolic abnormality.
84.8% of participants had at least one cardiometabolic abnormality
Cardiometabolic abnormality was defined as the presence of at least one of: poor glycaemic control, dyslipidaemia, or renal impairment
The mean cardiometabolic risk score was 1.87 ± 1.05
Study was conducted among 120 systematically recruited adults aged ≥ 30 years with T2DM at government-owned PHC facilities in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Results
Poor glycaemic control was the most prevalent individual cardiometabolic abnormality among study participants.
The mean diabetes duration among participants was 4 ± 3.2 years
The mean age of participants was 56 ± 10.8 years, with females comprising 61.7%
Results
Dyslipidaemia was nearly as prevalent as poor glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes in this primary care setting.
65.0% of participants had dyslipidaemia
Lipid profile was assessed as part of the laboratory analyses
The study authors note that evidence on comprehensive metabolic risk profiling beyond glycaemic control remains limited in Nigeria
These findings support the need for routine lipid assessment in resource-limited settings
Results
Renal impairment was present in approximately one-third of participants with type 2 diabetes attending primary health care clinics.
29.2% of participants had renal impairment
Renal impairment was determined using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on standard clinical thresholds
Renal function was assessed as part of the laboratory analyses alongside glycaemic status and lipid profile
The study authors highlight these findings as supporting the need for routine renal function assessment in resource-limited settings
Results
Longer diabetes duration was independently associated with poor glycaemic control, while other factors were not independently associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.
Other factors assessed were not independently associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes at the p < 0.05 threshold
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression
Socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained using structured questionnaires and medical records
Results
The study population was predominantly female and middle-aged, reflecting the demographics of type 2 diabetes patients attending primary health care facilities in this region.
Females comprised 61.7% of participants
The mean age was 56 ± 10.8 years
Participants were aged ≥ 30 years
The mean diabetes duration was 4 ± 3.2 years
120 eligible adults were systematically recruited from government-owned PHC facilities in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
What This Means
This research examined the heart and metabolic health of 120 adults with type 2 diabetes who were receiving care at government-run primary health clinics in Makurdi, Nigeria. Researchers measured blood sugar control, blood fat levels (lipids), and kidney function to build a comprehensive picture of cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The study found that the vast majority of patients — nearly 85% — had at least one serious health abnormality beyond just diabetes itself. Poor blood sugar control affected about two-thirds of patients, abnormal blood fat levels also affected about two-thirds, and nearly one-third showed signs of reduced kidney function. On average, patients had almost two of these problems simultaneously.
This research suggests that diabetes care in these primary health care settings is falling short of addressing the full range of health risks that come with type 2 diabetes. The fact that having diabetes for a longer period of time was linked to worse blood sugar control points to the challenges of managing this chronic disease over time in resource-limited settings. Many patients appeared to have serious cardiovascular and kidney risks that may not be routinely detected or treated.
The practical implication of these findings is that diabetes management in primary health care clinics in Nigeria — and potentially similar settings across the region — needs to go beyond just monitoring blood sugar. This research suggests that routine testing of blood fat levels and kidney function should be integrated into standard diabetes care, even in resource-limited environments, because the burden of these additional health problems appears to be substantial.
Okonkwo I, Idoh M, Agbo E, Okafor E. (2026). Cardiometabolic risk profile and associated factors among adults with type 2 diabetes in a primary health care clinics in North Central Nigeria.. African journal of primary health care & family medicine. https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5461