Clinical, biochemical, and densitometric profiles and FRAX risk calculations of South African patients with fragility fractures of the hip: observations from a tertiary care centre
Osteoporosis (OP) is common in the elderly and the association with fragility fractures is well established.1 The disease is silent and remains widely unrecognised until the patient presents with a fracture. Management is often limited to the surgical aspects and not focused on secondary fracture prevention and treatment of the underlying condition. Epidemiological data confirm a marked increase in hip fracture incidence globally, and it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more than 6 million hip fractures worldwide.
Clinical characteristics of endocrine disturbances in post-COVID-19 condition, case report with review of literature
Persistent, returning, or newly emerging symptoms following infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), are commonly known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).1 PCC consists of multiple symptoms, including fatigue, dyspnoea, and cognitive dysfunction. Typically, these symptoms manifest within three months of the onset of symptomatic COVID-19, last for at least two months, and cannot be attributed to an alternative diagnosis.1 A prospective study involving South African adults indicated a close association between the presence of acute COVID-19 symptoms, especially in critically ill patients, and the development of PCC, with a tendency for patients to be female. In China, the prevalence of severe PCC was estimated at 31.0%, with the most common severe symptoms including fatigue (33.7%), cough (31.9%), sore throat (31%), difficulty in concentrating (30.5%), anxiety (30.2%), myalgia (29.9%), and arthralgia (29.9%).
Clinical insights from continuous glucose monitor use in patients living with type 1 diabetes in rural Malawi
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic illness characterised by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. An estimated 8.4 million individuals live with T1D worldwide; of those one-fifth (1.8 million) live in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs).1 Life expectancy of a 10-year-old diagnosed with T1D ranges from a mean of 13 years in low-income to 65 years in high-income countries.
Prevalence and treatment-related outcome of hospitalised type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with comorbidities at an academic hospital in Johannesburg
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic chronic illness, characterised by high random plasma glucose levels of ≥ 11.1 mmol/L or a fasting plasma glucose of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L.1 There are two types of DM (Type 1 and Type 2). Type 1 DM (T1DM), accounts for 10% of all DM cases, and is caused by insufficient production of insulin.2 Type 2 DM (T2DM) is responsible for 90% of all DM cases, and is characterised by insulin resistance and altered tissue sensitivity. This results in some patients having normal insulin levels but manifesting high blood glucose levels.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices related to diabetes among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Tshepong Hospital
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the largest health epidemics worldwide, and one of the top 10 causes of death globally, affecting mostly working-age individuals.1 The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas estimated that 537 million adults between the ages of 20 and 79 were living with DM (1 in 10) in 2021. This is predicted to increase to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.1 The Global Burden of Disease Study predicts a more than twofold increase in DM cases (> 1.3 million people) by 2050, due to obesity and demographic changes, which are risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus T2DM). In Africa, 24 million adults are living with DM, with a 129% increase predicted in 2045. The latter is associated with an increasingly unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, an ageing population, and urbanisation. South Africa has the highest prevalence rate of DM (11.3%) in Africa, with 4.2 million (one in nine) adults living with DM and about 50% undiagnosed.
Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa - December 2024 Vol 29 No 3