Children and adolescents with diabetes at Tygerberg Hospital – at risk of cardiovascular complications?


 Background. In South Africa, the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and hypertension (HT) in paediatric diabetes patients is unknown. Objectives. To determine HT diabetic seen at Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) establish whether either associated with body mass index (BMI), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) or duration diabetes. Further, to differs between two specified periods.Methods. A retrospective study 154 patients, aged 1 - 19 years, TBH 2007 2017, was undertaken. The following data were recorded: age; sex; disease (time since diagnosis); height; weight; blood pressure; HbA1c; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); triglycerides (TG); low-density (LDL-C).Results. More than half (57.8%; n=89/154; 95% confidence interval (CI) 51.7 65.0) had dyslipidaemia, 16.3% (n=24/147) low HDL-C levels, 53.8% (n=78/145) high LDL-C levels 14.9% (n=22/148) raised TG levels. Nearly (48.7%; n=75/154; CI 41.6 55.1) hypertensive 93.5% (n=144/154) poorly controlled (HbA1c >7.5%). Dyslipidaemia not BMI percentile its did change periods. Prevalence About one-third (30.8% (n=4/13); 11.9 59.3) pre-adolescents 60.3% (n=85/141; 51.9 68.1) adolescents (p=0.04). diagnosed 62.6% (n=82/131) (p=0.04) 71.7% (95% 59.0 81.7) ≥16 years age (p=0.005).Conclusions. Poor glycaemic control, are common children, putting them risk cardiovascular complications adulthood.