Incidence, prevalence, and mortality of type 1 diabetes in children and youth in Burkina Faso 2013-2022

AIM

There are no data on type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence and prevalence in Burkina Faso. We aimed to determine these in persons aged <25 years (y) since the implementation of Life for a Child (LFAC) program in 2013.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were collected from the prospective program register. Diagnosis of T1D was clinical, based on presentation, abrupt onset of symptomatic hyperglycemia, need for insulin replacement therapy from diagnosis, and no suggestion of other diabetes types.

RESULTS

We diagnosed 312 cases of T1D <25y in 2013-2022. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1. T1D incidence <25y per 100,000 population/year increased from 0.08 (CI 95% 0.07-0.60) in 2013 to 0.34 (CI 95% 0.26-0.45) in 2022 (p=0.002). Incidence <15y/y rose from 0.04 (CI 95% 0.01-0.10) to 0.27 (CI 95% 0.18-0.38) per 100,000/year in 2013 and 2022, respectively (p < 0.002). Prevalence per 100,000 population <25y was 0.27 (CI 95% 0.19-0.37) in 2013 and rose to 1.76 (CI 95% 1.546-1.99) in 2022 (p<0.0001). Mortality rate was 20 (CI 95% 13-29.6) per 1,000-person y.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a low but sharply rising T1D incidence and prevalence rates in children and youth in Burkina Faso since LFAC program implementation. It is very likely this is partly due to improved case detection. Mortality remains substantial.

Diabetes knowledge and associated factors in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in youth is becoming a public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso. However, little is known about the level of knowledge of these patients on T1D. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of diabetes in adolescents and young adults about the disease, and identify the factors associated in Burkina Faso.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2020 among youth with T1D, aged 10 to 30 years, and regularly followed in the internal medicine department of Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Data were collected using the French AJD (Aide aux Jeunes Diabétiques) validated diabetes knowledge and skills (DKS) questionnaire designed to test participants' accuracy in knowledge about six different themes of T1D, as generalities of diabetes, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, management of insulin treatment, and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). DKS level was determined by calculating the scores, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore factors influencing DKS scores. This level was classified as insufficient or low ≤ 25/50, regular 26-39/50, and adequate or good ≥ 40/50.

RESULTS

Sixty-three participants with a mean age of 19.05 years and a sex ratio (W/M) of 1.17 were included in our study. The mean HbA1c level was 9.79%, and 43 (68.23%) patients had an insufficient DKS level. The mean global DKS score of correct answers was 23.63/50. The percentage of correct answers was respectively 50% for the item "generalities of diabetes", 32.4% for the item "hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia", 67.72% for the item "diet", 37.34% for the item "management of insulin treatment" and 44.97% for the item "SMBG". In univariate analysis, a better patient DKS level was associated with university education and long duration of diabetes care follow-up (> 10 years, p < 0.05). Only increasing age remain associated with a better knowledge score (p < 0.05) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study is an important first step in identifying areas for intervention efforts about therapeutic education for youth with type I diabetes in Burkina Faso.