Binary Logistic Regression Analysis of the Risk Factors of Diabetes Mellitus in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing public health burden in Nigeria, driven by urbanization, lifestyle changes, and demographic shifts. Despite rising prevalence, locally contextualized statistical analyses of diabetes risk factors remain scarce in Nigerian hospital settings. This study aimed to identify and quantify the socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle determinants of diabetes mellitus among adult patients attending Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted using secondary data from 300 patient records selected through stratified random sampling from a population of approximately 1,200 registered diabetes patients. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied to examine predictors of diabetes status, defined by fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L. The overall prevalence of diabetes was 30.0% (n = 90). Binary logistic regression identified age (40–49 years: OR = 2.34, p = 0.005; 50–59 years: OR = 2.77, p = 0.001), overweight (OR = 2.58, p = 0.001), obesity (OR = 3.90, p < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 2.41, p = 0.002), low physical activity (OR = 2.12, p = 0.007), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.67, p = 0.04), and pregnancy (OR = 2.57, p = 0.01) as statistically significant predictors. Gender, education, and occupation were not statistically significant. Diabetes mellitus in this population is a multifactorial condition predominantly driven by modifiable risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, and physical inactivity. Targeted public health interventions emphasizing weight management, blood pressure control, lifestyle modification, and routine screening are urgently needed for high-risk groups in Makurdi and comparable Nigerian urban settings.