Control of diabetes mellitus in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia: results of screening campaign

To assess the status of diabetes mellitus [DM] control in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, all Saudi Arabian residents aged 30 years and above were invited to participate in a screening campaign. Of 197 681 participants screened 15.7% had a previous diagnosis of DM. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from these patients. Only 33.8% of patients were achieving their glycaemic control target [fasting or random capillary blood glucose < 130 mg/dL or < 180 mg/dL respectively]. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that higher age, current smoking and lower level of physical activity were significantly associated with uncontrolled DM. Hypertension was positively associated with glycaemic control. The overall rate of diabetes control is unacceptably low in the general population of this province

Prevalence of current smoking in Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

All Saudi Arabian residents of the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia aged 30+ years completed a structured interview questionnaire about smoking. The prevalence of current smoking [smoked > 100 cigarettes or any tobacco products including waterpipe in lifetime and still smoking daily or occasionally for 1 month or more] among 196 268 respondents was 16.9% [28.7% among men and 4.5% among women]. There was a significantly higher prevalence of smoking at younger ages in men and older ages in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that factors independently associated with smoking were lower socioeconomic status, lower education, being divorced and occupations such as the military and self-employed

Evaluation of capillary blood glucose versus a high-risk questionnaire for screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

This study compared 2 screening tests for detecting undiagnosed diabetes mellitus when applied in a mass-screening campaign in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia in 2004-05. Of 15 082 individuals screened, 65.8% were positive by the American Diabetes Association risk-score questionnaire and 71.3% by determination of capillary blood glucose [CBG] using a portable glucometer. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was confirmed in 20.3% of participants and pre-diabetes in 33.9% using fasting venous blood testing. The risk-score questionnaire did not perform well versus fasting and random CBG. Optimal cut-offs for fasting and random CBG were 120 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL respectively. Fasting CBG had higher sensitivity, specificity and discriminating ability than random CBG for detection of diabetes and pre-diabetes in this population