ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide. Many factors can contribute to HC, including advanced age, chronic diseases (such as diabetes and nephrotic syndrome), and the use of certain medications. Aim: Our goal was to compare the sociodemographic, behavioral, and other comorbid conditions of adult participants living with HC in Saudi Arabia to the general population. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis from the Sharik Health Indicators Surveillance System (SHISS). SHISS consists of cross-sectional phone interviews conducted in all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia on a quarterly basis. Participant recruitment was limited to Arabic-speaking Saudi residents who were ≥18 years old. Results: Out of 20,492 potential participants contacted in 2021, 14,007 completed the interview. Of the total participants, 50.1% were male. The mean age of participants was 36.7 years, with 1673 (11.94%) having HC. A regression model showed that participants with HC had a higher likelihood of being older, living in Tabouk, Riyadh, or Asir regions, being overweight or obese, having diabetes, hypertension, genetic or heart diseases, or having a higher risk of depression. Gender, all types of smoking, physical activity, and education level were eliminated from the model. Discussion: In this study, participants with HC were identified with some co-existing conditions that may affect the progression of the disease and the participants' quality of life. This information could assist care providers in identifying patients who are at higher risk, improve screening efficiency, and improve disease progression and quality of life.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to explore sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical factors in adult participants with Diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 20492 potential participants conducted in quarters 1 and 2 in 2021 from all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. A backward maximum likelihood logistic regression model, including all variables, was used to identify variables associated with participants living with Diabetes. Results: A total of 14007 participants, aged ≥18 years, completed the interview, with a response rate of 68.3% and successful quota sampling. Fifty percent were male, the mean age was 36.7 (SD 13.7; range: 18-90). Of the total sample, 1633, 11.7% had Diabetes. Seven percent only of diabetic patients (124 participants) had an acceptable level of fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, only (274, 16.8%) had an acceptable level of physical activity, compared to (2389, 19.3%) in the non-diabetic group. Daily smokers were slightly higher in the diabetic group compared to the non-diabetic group (13.2% vs 11.7%). Hypertension was reported mostly by the diabetic group (45.1% vs 8%). Overweight and Obesity were more prevalent in patients with Diabetes (72.50% vs 51.62%). The results of the logistic regression have shown that several sociodemographic, behavioral and intermediate risk factors were significantly associated with Diabetes. Conclusion: The study found that the prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia is around 12%, which is lower than the previously reported prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Diabetes was found to be associated with lower educational level, smoking, obesity and overweight, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. These factors are essential to be identified and screened in the community at regular interval; furthermore, controlling these factors may improve their disease management and quality of life. Additionally, knowing these factors will assist policymakers to shape an effective practical approach to combat diabetes widespread.
