Evaluation of Prothrombin time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Tests in Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and a progressive disease. The risk of at herothrombotic complication is increased in diabetics. Research has shown a diverse of Diabetes mellitus related abnormalities especially in haemostasis and thrombosis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the Prothrombin time and Activated partial thromboplastin time in Diabetes mellitus patients. Methodology: Descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was employed to recruit 371 participants. Venous blood was collected (4.5 mls) in 3.2% trisodium citrate (0.5 mls) for prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time testing. It was analyzed using coagulation analyzer (Start 4). Capillary blood was used for glucose estimation by glucose oxidase method. Results: There was low degree of correlation between prothrombin time, international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time of diabetics as compared to the controls (R=4%, p=0.215, R=4%, P=0.221 and R=4%, P=0.445 respectively). There was statistical significant in activated partial thromboplastin time in relation to age (p=0.005) with no statistical significant in prothrombin time (0.839) and international normalized ratio (p=0.880). Conclusion: Prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were not significantly affected by the diabetic state of the study subjects. Activated partial thromboplastin time had a significant difference in age group means revealing hypercoagulable state. Preventive measures should be undertaken in these age groups to ensure complications associated with hypercoagulable state do not occur.