The aim of this study was to determine, using meta-analysis, the
prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to explore the influence of method
of diagnosis, DM types, and study year on the prevalence of DM with the view
to evaluating the trend and the burden of DM in KSA. Prevalence estimates
were derived using a random effect model on carefully selected
population-based studies in KSA. The derived estimates were applied to the
total populations in the country to give an estimated burden of DM.
Twenty-one studies, with 376,998 participants out of whom 54,837 had DM,
were selected. The prevalence of DM was 20.9%, 0.9%, and 12.6% for T2DM,
T1DM, and combined T1/T2DM, respectively. Subgroup analysis using the method
of DM diagnosis showed that the prevalence of DM was 14.2% (95% confidence
interval [CI]: 9.3% to 19.0%) in the fasting plasma glucose group, 6.8% (95%
CI: 2.6% to 11%) in oral glucose tolerance group, and 12.5% (6.2%–18.9%) in
glycated hemoglobin group. Meta-regression revealed 4.6 × 10−3 increase in
prevalence per year. The prevalence of DM in Saudi Arabia is high. There is
a rising trend in the prevalence of DM in KSA and it is accompanied by a
proportionate increase in the burden of DM.
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