Maisa K Abu-Kamar¹ , Adnan A Abu-Qamar²

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the factors associated with inadequate diabetes control among diabetic patients in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 346 respondents. A review of the medical files of the participants was done, in addition to interviews, and the patients were asked to complete a structured questionnaire. Moreover, the participants’ medical files were subjected to review. The relationships between uncontrolled DM (HbA1c ≥ 7) and various demographic and clinical factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Out of 346 participants, females represented 54.6 %, while 178 participants (51.4 %) were unregulated DM cases. Hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity found in the subjects (24.3 %, n = 84). The mean disease duration was 6.49 ± 4.76 years. Most respondents (n = 306, i.e., 88.4 %) in the study were prescribed at least two diabetes medications daily. Analysis revealed that 122 (35.3 %), 319 (92.2 %) and 45 (13 %) of the respondents were non-adherent to diabetes medication, physical exercise, and recommended diet, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that older age (aOR: 1.96, 95 % CI: 1.195 – 3.214; p = 0.008), male gender (aOR: 1.664, 95 % CI: 1.045 – 2.647; p = 0.032), and non-compliance to prescribed medicines (aOR: 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.031 – 2.688; p = 0.037) were significantly associated with uncontrolled diabetes. Conclusion: Elderly patients, male sex and non-adherence to medications were factors that influenced the incidence of uncontrolled DM. Therefore, in managing uncontrolled DM, doctors should place greater emphasis on enhancing adherence strategies, particularly among older male DM patients.