Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and to determine potential associated risk factors of the disease in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Research design and methods: Five hundred and two (502) subjects aged above 40 years, obtained by a two-stage cluster sampling technique participated in this survey. Casual (random) plasma glucose estimations were done for all subjects after relevant personal data were obtained. Subjects with casual plasma glucose (CPG) ]/7.0 mmol/l had oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) done. Fasting and 2 h post glucose load blood samples were analyzed for plasma glucose levels. Results: Thirty-four (34) subjects had diabetes, giving a crude prevalence rate of 6.8% (CI 0/4.6 Á/9.0%), and standardized rate of 7.9%. The crude prevalence rates were 7.7 and 5.7% for males and females, respectively. Of the 34 diabetic subjects seen, 14 (41.2%) of them were not previously known to have diabetes; 83.7% of these were asymptomatic. Body mass index (BMI) ]/25 kg/m 2 and WHR ]/0.85, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, heavy consumption of alcohol, older age as well as high social status and Hausa Á/Fulani or Ibibio origin were associated with significantly higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Port Harcourt is relatively high. Changing lifestyle associated with industrialization may explain this. A significant proportion of the diabetic subjects are asymptomatic and undiagnosed. The risk factors as shown in our study clearly emphasize the point that type 2 diabetes is to a large extent a preventable disease. #

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Background: Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a worldwide health concern with increase in the global incidence of obesity and it is now considered the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome. Aims and Objective: The study’s aim was to compare the indices of the metabolic syndrome in compensated chronic liver disease patients with and without NAFLD at NAUTH, Nnewi. Materials and Methods: A total of 136 consecutive patients with compensated chronic liver disease were recruited into the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain relevant socio-demographic data. NAFLD was diagnosed based on clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic and in a few histological features. The Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to identify patients with the metabolic syndrome. Results: Of the 136 participants recruited into the study, 52 (38.2%) fulfilled 2 or more diagnostic criteria for NAFLD with a male: female ratio of 1:1.36. The mean (SD) age of persons with NAFLD was 45.12 (±8.07) years compared to 47.49(±11.79) years for persons without NAFLD. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.2). Body mass index (BMI), central obesity (waist circumference), fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in the NAFLD group (p= <0.05) respectively. Conclusion: Indices of the metabolic syndrome were more prevalent in persons with NAFLD. It is recommended that patients with NAFLD be screened for metabolic syndrome and appropriate therapy instituted to decrease the risk of both hepatic and cardiovascular complications.

Background and Aims: The prevalence of People living with human Immunodeficiency virus remains considerably high in Nigeria. Liver disease has emerged as an increasingly significant contributor to mortality among HIV-infected patients. The aim of our study was to compare the difference in the prevalence of liver enzyme abnormalities between treatment naïve HIV positive and HIV negative patients. Method: The study was conducted at a teaching hospital. The study population consists of 736 patients (368 cases and 368 controls) that were selected from the hospital. The cases were treatment naïve HIV patients and the controls were patients being managed for other diseases. A diagnosis of liver disease was made based on the diagnostic criteria which include; presence of at least one clinical feature of liver disease, two liver chemistry abnormalities and an abnormal hepatic ultrasound report. Result: The mean ages of the cases and controls were 35.97±9.77 and 36.08±9.54 years respectively. Liver disease was seen in 277 (75.3%) of the cases and 54 (14.7%) of the controls, this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Alkaline phosphatase ALP (p<0.001) and Gamma-glutamyl transferase GGT (p=0.04) were indicative of the presence of liver diseases in univariate analysis. Although Bilirubin was not of statistical significance, all HIV infected patients with total bilirubin ≥ 25.5µmol/L had liver diseases. Conclusion: The use of abnormal liver enzymes and clinical features in resource poor settings are valuable screening tools to indicate the presence of liver diseases particularly in HIV-infected patients.