Evaluation of Patients’ Responses to Oral Hypoglycemic Agents at a University Health Centre

Background: There were 1.5 million deaths caused by diabetes in 2012, of which more than 80% of diabetes deaths occurred in developing countries. WHO estimated diabetes would be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030.

Aim: The study aimed at evaluating type 2 diabetes mellitus patients’ clinical responses after use of oral hypoglycaemic agents.

Study Design: The study was a retrospective observational study.

Place and duration of Study: The study was undertaken at Primary healthcare facility, University Health Centre. The study monitored case notes of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who attended the endocrinology clinic within the ten years of review.

Methods: After ethical approval was given, a retrospective evaluation of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients’ folders was done for one hundred and nineteen patients who attended the endocrinology clinic. Relevant information obtained from patients’ folders were collated and analysed.

Results: Out of one hundred and nineteen participants who received oral hypoglycaemic agents, seventy-six (63.8%) participants were in the age range of 45-55 years, followed by twenty-four (20.2%) participants with age range of greater than 55 years. Sixty-eight (57.1%) participants were females while fifty-one (42.9%) were males. Forty two (35.3%) participants had a controlled plasma glucose level of <110 mg/dl while seventy-seven (64.7%) participants had plasma glucose level of >110 mg/dl. Efficacy index was highest for Daonil+Glycomet followed by Diabinese+Glucophage and Glucovance respectively.

Conclusion: The study indicated that fewer type 2 diabetes mellitus patients’ plasma glucose levels were controlled by two drugs combination therapy involving metformin.