Trends in type 1 diabetes diagnosis in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that the rate of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing worldwide, there exists a dearth of information on the disease in most sub-Saharan African countries. The goal of this study was to determine the enrolment trend of T1D using data compiled over 28 y from a teaching hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. METHODS: Information collected included sex, age at diagnosis and date of T1D diagnosis. We identified trends from 1992 to 2018, divided into 3 y intervals. RESULTS: From 1992 to 2018, 1717 individuals with T1D were enrolled in the diabetes clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The male:female ratio was 1:1.2. The number of individuals diagnosed with T1D decreased among the 10–19 y age group during the 1992–1994 period, followed by a progressive increase within the same age group during the subsequent period (from 35.4% in 1995–1997 to 63.2% in 2016–2018). There was a decline in the proportion of children 0–9 y of age diagnosed during the study period (from 5.1% in 1992–1994 to 3.6% in 2016–2018). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, a decreasing trend of T1D enrolments was observed in general while among adolescents an increasing trend was observed.