The rise of diabetes prevalence in the Arab region

Abstract

Introduction: Arab populations have many similarities and dissimilarities. They share culture, language and religion but they are also subject to economic, political and social differences. The purpose of this study is to understand the causes of the rising trend of diabetes prevalence in order to suggest efficient actions susceptible to reduce the burden of diabetes in the Arab world. Method: We use principal component analysis to illustrate similarities and differences between Arab countries according to four variables: 1) the prevalence of diabetes, 2) impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 3) diabetes related deaths and 4) diabetes related expenditure per person. A linear regression is also used to study the correlation between human development index and diabetes prevalence. Results: Arab countries are mainly classified into three groups according to the diabetes comparative prevalence (high, medium and low) but other differences are seen in terms of diabetes-related mortality and diabetes related expenditure per person. We also investigate the correlation between the human development index (HDI) and diabetes comparative prevalence (R = 0.81). Conclusion: The alarming rising trend of diabetes prevalence in the Arab region constitutes a real challenge for heath decision makers. In order to alleviate the burden of diabetes, preventive strategies are needed, based essentially on sensitization for a more healthy diet with regular exercise but health authorities are also asked to provide populations with heathcare and early diagnosis to avoid the high burden caused by complications of diabetes.

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“…Other countries in the "topten" include Kuwait 21.1%, Lebanon 20.2%, Bahrain 19.9%, and United Arab of Emirates 19.2%. [36] Nonetheless, as our data suggests, we think that the proposed prevalence rate of 20% in Saudi Arabia is a low estimate of the real accumulated number of patients with diabetes in the age group 20-79 years. In a study by Alqurashi et al, in 2011, [37] of 6024 participants, diabetes mellitus was present in 1792 patients, i.e., 30% which highly conforms well with our results 34%.…”

“…[2] Furthermore, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), [36] KSA is number 6 of the top ten countries for the prevalence of diabetes and is expected to continue in the coming two decades with the prevalence rate of 20.0% in the age group 20-79 years. This percentage is almost similar to the Saudi MOH report.…”

An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of starting insulin detemir in insulin-naïve people with type 2 diabetes

“…Costs associated with complications comprise a large proportion of diabetes-related healthcare budgets when estimated from countries as diverse as Tanzania and the US, Mexico, and South Korea [38][39][40][41] . In the present analysis, while projected treatment costs associated with starting insulin detemir were greater in the studied populations compared with OGLDs, and continued to be throughout the 30-year time horizon, they were partially (Algeria and India) or in essence completely (Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico) offset by the observed reduction in the costs associated with the management of diabetes-related complications.…”

Obesity-linked diabetes in the Arab world: a review

“…Several studies have addressed the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in different Arab countries (Table 3). Saudi Arabia has the 5th highest rate of diabetes worldwide, with 20% of the population being affected (47). A study of 17 232 Saudi people in a community-based national epidemiological health survey of the prevalence of obesity reported that nearly 36% of (18), (19), (143) Visfatin Insulin resistance (Not fully explained in humans) (18), (40) Omentin Insulin resistance Enhancement of insulin-stimulated glucose transport (144), (141) Vaspin Insulin resistance (Not fully explained in humans) (18), (141) Retinol-binding protein-4 Insulin resistance Lipid metabolism…”