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Background: An increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) after COVID-19 has been reported in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The burden of COVID-related DM has yet to be described in Africa, where the overall risk of DM has been increasing rapidly. Our objective was to compare the prevalence of pre-DM and DM in Nigerian individuals with a history of COVID-19 to individuals without known COVID-19 infection. Methods: We undertook a retrospective cohort study with 256 individuals with a past medical history of COVID-19 with no history of pre-DM or DM and 256 individuals without a history of COVID-19 or pre-DM/DM. Participants were categorized as pre-DM (fasting capillary glucose 100–125 mg/dL) or DM (fasting capillary glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL). We employed univariate and multivariable logistic regression to identify key predictors and adjust for confounders related to hyperglycaemia risk factors. Additionally, we used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 history and diabetes status, distinguishing between normal, pre-diabetic, and diabetic glucose levels. All models were adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, physical activity, central adiposity, and family history of DM. Results: Compared to the control group, those with a history of COVID-19 had a similar median age (38 vs. 40 years, p = 0.84), had a higher proportion of men (63% vs. 49%), and had a lower prevalence of central adiposity (waist: hip ratio ≥ 0.90 for males and WHR ≥ 0.85 for females) (48% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.06). Of the 256 with a history of COVID-19, 44 (17%) required in-patient care. The median (interquartile range) time interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and the glycaemic assessment was 19 (IQR: 14, 24) months. Pre-DM prevalence was 27% in the post-COVID-19 group and 4% in the control group, whereas the prevalence of DM was 7% in the post-COVID-19 group and 2% in the control group. After multivariable adjustment, the odds of pre-DM were 8.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.98, 16.58; p < 0.001) higher, and the odds of DM were 3.97 (95% CI: 1.16, 13.63) higher in those with a history of COVID-19 compared to controls. In the adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, individuals with a history of COVID-19 exhibited significantly elevated risks for pre-diabetes (RRR = 7.55, 95% CI: 3.76–15.17) and diabetes (RRR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.01–11.71) compared to those without COVID-19. Conclusion: Previous COVID-19 was found to be a risk factor for prevalent pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus in Nigeria. More intensive screening for DM in those with a history of COVID-19 should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in conflict and post-conflict settings in Northeastern Nigeria has not been evaluated to date. As this region undergoes recovery, understanding the prevalence of NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, and the associated behavioral coping mechanisms, is crucial for developing tailored healthcare solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of conflict on the prevalence of NCDs in conflict-exposed areas in Northeastern Nigeria compared with non-conflict regions., Methods: This study was an unmatched cross-sectional study. The participants were selected from inpatients and outpatients at general hospitals in Mubi (conflict-exposed) and Jada (non-conflict), which are local government areas in Adamawa, a state in Northeastern Nigeria. The study was conducted over four months, and data on various health indicators were collected. Multivariable binary logistic regression and complementary log regression were performed to investigate the effects of individual risk factors and regional settings on the prevalence of NCDs., Findings: A sample of 463 individuals from both locations was analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and depression in the entire cohort was 22.92%, 5.04%, 44.19%, and 17.94%, respectively. The rates of hypertension and abdominal obesity in the conflict-exposed Mubi were lower, and the rate of depression was higher than those recorded in Jada. Females showed higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and depression than males. The residents of Mubi had lower odds of having abdominal obesity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.11-0.28]) but a higher risk of depression (incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 4.78; 95% CI [2.51-9.22]) than those in Jada. However, the participants affected by insurgency showed higher odds of having both abdominal obesity (aOR = 1.95; 95% CI [1.23-3.08]) and depression (IRR = 1.76; 95% CI [1.08-2.88]) than those who were not affected by the conflict., Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for mental health support in conflict-affected regions and comprehensive healthcare strategies for the aging population. As adjustment of lifestyle factors is crucial for addressing NCDs, effective case management and food security are essential for reducing the risk of NCDs in conflict-exposed populations., Competing Interests: Oyelola Adegboye is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (©2025 Stephen et al.)