Diabetes Case Burden at Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan; A Retrospective Study

Vishal Chhetri; Hari Prasad Pokhrel; Lungten  Zangmo; Laigden Dzed

doi:10.26440/IHRJ/0402.05345

Vishal Chhetri https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5367-5229
Hari Prasad Pokhrel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-7378
Lungten Zangmo
Laigden Dzed https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3772-9607

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26440/IHRJ/0402.05345

Keywords: Bhutan, Sedentary Lifestyle, Non-Communicable Disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting millions of people globally. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly in Bhutan. Anecdotal evidences show poor compliance and loss to follow up among the Bhutanese population living with diabetes. This study was conducted to understand the case load, age and gender distribution and compliance to follow up among diabetic patients registered at Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan.
MATERIALS & METHOD: All the patients diagnosed and registered with Diabetic Clinic between 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2018 were included in the study.
RESULTS: There was a sharp increase in number of registered diabetic patients from 641 cases in 2014 to 1590 cases in 2018. A total of 949 new cases were diagnosed and registered during the study period of which 52% were women. The overall diabetes prevalence under Gelephu CRRH catchment area is found to be 2.91% with lowest at Chhudzom (1.01%) and highest in Samtenling Gewog (3.18%). Lost to follow up among new cases for past four years was found to be 3.96%, 5.0%, 6.47% and 5.85% from 2015 to 2018 respectively.
CONCLUSION: The ageing population and sedentary lifestyle has contributed to the sharp escalation of type 2 diabetes cases in Gelephu. The hospital recorded total of 1590 cases in 2018 which is a two-fold increase in case load within a span of five years. The current analysis found that loss to follow up was 3.96%, 5.0%, 6.47% and 5.85% from 2015 to 2018 respectively among new cases of diabetes registered with the hospital.

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Author Biographies

Vishal Chhetri

Royal Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan

Hari Prasad Pokhrel

Gidakom Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan

Lungten Zangmo

Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan

Laigden Dzed

Nutrition Program, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan

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