ABSTRACT

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a condition occurring as the result of a number of pathological processes. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes is on the rise globally. As far as prevalence of diabetes mellitus is concerned, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans in patients with (T2DM) visiting Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore

Study design & setting: It was a cross-sectional study conducted at the emergency department and OPD of Medicine Department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore

Study duration: The study was conducted for six months from 26-12-2013 to 25-6-2014

Methods: Patients presenting in the emergency department of Medicine Department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore were enrolled in the study after fulfilling the inclusion criteria and excluding patients falling in the exclusion criteria after a thorough history and physical examination. All ethical considerations were taken into account in this regard. Purpose of the study was explained to the participants. All patients willing to participate in this study were included. Clinical data with respect to their demographic profile age and sex was recorded. Written and informed consent was obtained from the participants.

Results: Mean age of the participants was 33.8 years SD±19.8 years amongst the total 340 patients selected, 129 (37.9%) were male and 211(62.1%) were female. Out of the total sample population, 61(17.9%) patients were found to have acanthosis nigricans. Out of these 61 patients who had acanthosis nigricans 26(42.6) were male and 35(57.3%) patients female. There was strong association between BMI and acanthosis nigricans. p-value (<0.001)

Conclusion: We found a higher prevalence of acanthosis nigricans in our study (17.9%) when compared with studies done in other parts of Pakistan (e.g. the study conducted in two major cities (Mirpurkhas and Jamshoro) of province Sindh revealed a prevalence of acanthosis nigricans as 5.8%.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Acanthosis nigricans.