Determinants of diabetes and hypertension control in ambulatory healthcare in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

This study aims to study determinants for the control of diabetes and hypertension in Al Ain Ambulatory Healthcare patients. This is a cross sectional observational study of patients attending ambulatory healthcare centers in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates in 2009. From a yearly audit evaluating the care of patients with diabetes and hypertension, the determinants for improved diabetes and hypertension outcomes were identified from a total of 512 patients and its association with glycemic and blood pressure control were studied. From all variables studied, only the clinic where the patient was treated helped predict both improved blood sugar and blood pressure control. For patients with diabetes, poor control the year before [p<0.001], the number of chronic disease clinic visits [p=0.042] and triglyceride levels [p=0.007] predicted worse control of diabetes. A predictor of poor control of blood pressure [p<0.001] for patients with hypertension was poor control of blood pressure in the year before. In this population, the healthcare system and the team played major roles as determinants in the control of patient's diabetes and blood pressure more than any of the other factors examined

High prevalence of the cardiovascular risk factors in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. An emerging health care priority

In the United Arab Emirates [UAE] cardiovascular mortality is a leading cause of death. Yet, there is a dearth of data on its risk factors. A cross-sectional community based study on established cardiovascular risk factors carried out between February 2004 - February 2005 in Al-Ain City, UAE. Subjects were interviewed, blood pressure, weight, height, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile measured. Framingham risk scores were used for risk assessment. Eight hundred seventeen subjects [403 males and 414 females] completed the survey, of these 28.4% had a Framingham risk assessment score of more than 20%, 23.3% had diabetes mellitus, 20.8% hypertension, 37.3% obesity, 22.7% metabolic syndrome, and 19.6% of male smoked. Coronary heart disease was reported in 2.4%. Lipid profiles were abnormal in 64% of the males, and in 53.9% of the females, mostly due to low high-density lipoproteins or high triglycerides levels. The overall cardiovascular risk assessment of the population screened calls for targeted interventions