Predictors for the Longevity of People with Diabetes in Buno Bedele and Illubabor Zones, South-west Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Currently, diabetes is a global health problem and it affects many people, especially in the developing continents. As patients’ living conditions improve and the science of medicine advances, the longevity of such patients has increased greatly. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify predictors for the association of the longevity of people with diabetes in Buno Bedele and Illubabor Zones, South-west Ethiopia. METHODS: The study applied a retrospective cohort study design approach. In particular, long rank tests for longevity experience and Cox semi-parametric regression were implemented to compare and investigate the predictors associated with the longevity of patients with diabetes. RESULTS: Among all the patients who participated in this study, 56.9% were females and the rest were males. From the Cox regression result, age (AHR = 1.0550, 95% CI: (1.0250, 1.0860), p-value = 0.001), female patients (AHR = 0.2200, 95% CI: (0.0390, 0.5290)), rural patients (AHR = 0.2200, 95% CI: (0.1000, 0.4890), p-value = 0.001), the existence of fasting blood glucose complication (AHR = 1.2040, 95% CI: (1.0930, 1.4460), p-value = 0.001), the existence of blood pressure (AHR = 1.2480, 95% CI: (1.1390, 1.5999), p-value = 0.0180), treatment type, Sulfonylureas (AHR = 4.9970, 95% CI: (1.4140, 17.6550), p-value = 0.0120), treatment type, Sulfonylurea and Metformin (AHR = 5.7200, 95% CI: (1.7780, 18.3990), p-value = 0.0030) were significantly affected the longevity of people with diabetes. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study showed that the patient’s age, sex of patients, residence area, the existence of complications, existence of pressure, and treatment type were major risk factors related to the longevity of people with diabetes. Hence, health-related education should be given to patients who come to take treatment to have better longevity for people with diabetes. More attention should be given to aged patients, male and urban patients, patients under complication treatment, and patients under treatment with single-treatment medication.