Abstract:
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of a metabolic disorder causing chronic
hyperglycemia which leads to long term damage to the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular
complications remain asymptomatic and an important cause of death in diabetic people. An
electrocardiograph is a simple and first-line tool in screening of cardiovascular diseases.
Electrocardiographic abnormality is associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Objective: To assess electrocardiographic abnormality and associated factors among adult type
2 diabetes patients on chronic follow up at Jimma Medical Center, 2019
Materials and methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1-
May 30, 2019, at JMC among selected type 2 diabetes patients. Systematic random sampling was
employed to select the study participants. The World Health Organization stepwise approach
and interviewer administered semi structured questionnaire was employed for collecting the
risks of CVDs among adult type 2 diabetes patients. Electrocardiography was done using a
standard 12-lead electrocardiograph machine. The collected data were checked for
completeness, coded, entered into the Epi-data Version 4.0.2. and exported to SPSS Version 21.
Descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations were carried
out. Binary and multiple logistic regression was done and a p-value of less 0.05 was used as a
level of significance.
Results: A total of 344 type 2 diabetes patients were interviewed and underwent
electrocardiography making a 100% response rate. Electrocardiographic abnormality was
identified among 209 (61%) of the respondents. Not attending formal education [AOR=3.07,
95%, CI=1.37-6.87], solid oil use, [AOR=1.79, 95%, CI=1.07-2.98], body mass index ≥ 25kg/m2
[AOR=2.74, 95%, CI=1.67-4.50] and long duration of diabetes ≥ 10 years [AOR=3.36 , 95%,
CI=1.46-7.71]were associated with ECG abnormality.
Conclusions and recommendation: In this study, the majority (3/5th) of the participant had
ECG abnormality. Not attending formal education, longer duration of diabetes ≥ 10 years,
solid oil use and increased body mass index ≥ 25kg/m2 were independent predictors of
electrocardiographic abnormality. Integrating ECG screening in routine diabetic management
helps to better evaluate the impact of T2DM on the cardiovascular system.
