The growing burden of diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite significant progress and efforts, the global burden of diabetes mellitus has continued to increase. According to a report by the International Diabetes Federation, Ethiopia has the fifth highest number of adults with diabetes in the African region. In Ethiopia, which is a member of LMICs, there are no national data or studies to determine its burden, prevalence, complications and economic impact. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA framework. R statistical software version 4.5.1 was used to obtain the pooled prevalence and odds ratio via a random effects model. Our analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia was 8%. The subgroup analysis on a regional basis revealed a prevalence of 15% and 10% in Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa, respectively. The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus-related complications was 50%, and further classification analysis revealed that 29% of the complications were acute and 52% were chronic. Moreover, the odds of developing diabetes mellitus among males are 1.2 times greater than those among females. The estimated average individual medical cost of managing diabetes mellitus is reported to be approximately $294.00 USD per month. Diabetes mellitus and its associated comorbidities are a critical public health concern in Ethiopia and is characterized by a triple burden of prevalence, serious health complications and significantly high management costs. Therefore, we strongly recommend the implementation of early patient screening, the reduction of behavioral risk factors, and government policy reforms related to public health support and access to emergency care for individuals with low socioeconomic status.