Overweight, obesity and chronic complications of diabetes mellitus in patients attending Diabetic Centre, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION To find out the association of Body Mass Index (BMI) with chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. METHODS A descriptive study was carried out on 8401 diabetic patients registered in the Diabetic Centre, Teaching Hospital of Jaffna, Sri Lanka from May 2009 to November 2013. BMI was categorised according to WHO Southeast Asia classification. Complications were identified from the summary sheets. Retinopathy was assessed with retinal images, peripheral neuropathy was assessed clinically with monofilament and biothesometer in selected patients. Nephropathy was assessed with urine microalbumin. Ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents were assessed from medical records. RESULTS Of the 8401 patients 51.1% were males and 48.9% were females. The mean age of males was 61.49 years and females 60.42 years. The mean BMI was 23.70 kg/m2. There was no significant difference in BMI according to gender. According to BMI 7.4% were underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m²), 38.3% were normal weight, 20.5% were overweight and 33.8% were obese. Rate of complications were ischaemic heart disease 21.1%, cerebrovascular accidents 3.9%, retinopathy 12.0%, peripheral neuropathy 34.1% and nephropathy 39.5%. There was no significant difference in complication rates according to BMI categories except for hypertension. CONCLUSIONS BMI was not associated with complications of diabetes. There was association between hypertension and BMI.