Arabian Peninsula men tend to insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk seen in South Asians.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that peninsular Arabs and South Asians share a tendency to insulin resistance, differing from other ethnic groups living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: A representative sample of 358 apparently healthy men aged 35-49 years drawn from a multiethnic office-based workforce in the UAE was tested. The sample included a reference group of expatriate South Asians, in whom insulin resistance has already been described as the cause of high coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality. All subjects were screened for CHD risk factors, including glucose tolerance and 2-h serum insulin determinations. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence of previously undiagnosed cases of diabetes (10.1%) and hypertension (14.2%). South Asian and peninsular Arab men shared the tendency to significantly higher 2-h glucose and insulin levels, lower HDL cholesterol concentrations and abdominal obesity especially compared to Europeans, who were five times less likely to be glucose-intolerant (OR 5.40, P = 0.015). Three other Arab groups were intermediate in most trends. CONCLUSION: Susceptibility to insulin resistance in Arabian peninsula men is strongly supported, suggesting that control of obesity and promotion of exercise are the best approach to CHD prevention.

Diabetes, obesity and hypertension in urban and rural people of bedouin origin in the United Arab Emirates.

In the United Arab Emirates, coronary heart disease has emerged as the leading cause of mortality over a 20-year period of rapid socioeconomic development. CHD risk factors of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), obesity and hypertension were investigated by community based survey among a bedouin-derived Emirati population sample of 322 subjects (> or = 20 years). Diagnosis of diabetes was based on a random capillary blood glucose level > or = 11.1 mmol l-1. Overall diabetes prevalence was 6% (11% in male and 7% in female subjects aged 30-64 years). Urban residence was associated with higher blood glucose levels (P = 0.000), and with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) values (P = 0.002): 27% of all urban residents were obese (BMI > or = 30). The Shamsi were positively associated with higher blood glucose levels compared with other tribal groups (P = 0.000). Female gender was associated with higher BMI values (P = 0.000). Between 19 and 25% of all subjects (male or female; urban or rural residents) have systolic hypertension (> 140 mm Hg). Male gender was associated with raised diastolic BP (P = 0.023). Diabetes was associated with higher mean systolic (P = 0.0274) and diastolic (P = 0.0132) BP levels. Differences in lifestyle between urban and rural residents are becoming blurred with further socioeconomic development and it is expected that the incidence of these CHD risk factors will continue to rise. Further studies are needed to specify changes associated with urbanization. Tribal influence also merits further study given the tradition of consanguinity in the UAE and the genetic basis to NIDDM.