DIABETES-MELLITUS IN EGYPT - RISK-FACTORS AND PREVALENCE

Major sociodemographic changes have occurred in Egypt to promote the d evelopment of noncommunicable diseases. We have performed a cross-sect ional, population-based survey of persons greater than or equal to 20 years of age in Cairo and surrounding rural villages to describe the p revalence of diabetes risk factors, diagnosed diabetes, previously und iagnosed diabetes, and impaired glucose tolerance by age, sex, rural a nd urban residence, and socioeconomic status (SES). In the survey, we identified 6052 eligible households: 76% of household respondents comp leted a household examination and 72% of selected household respondent s subsequently completed a medical examination. Exercise was assessed by questionnaire; adiposity by measurement of height, weight, and girt hs; and diabetes by history and 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. In rural areas, 52% of persons greater than or equal to 20 years of ag e were sedentary, 16% were obese, and 4.9% had diabetes. In lower SES urban areas, 73% were sedentary, 37% were obese, and 13.5% had diabete s. In higher SES urban areas, 89% were sedentary, 49% were obese, and 20% had diabetes. The combined prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in the Egyptian population greater than or equal to 20 years of age was estimated to be 9.3%. Approximately half the diabetes was diagnosed and the other half was previously undiagnosed. The prevalenc e of diabetes in Egypt is high, and the gradient in risk factors and d isease from rural to urban areas and in urban areas from lower to high er SES suggest that diabetes is a major, emerging clinical and public health problem in Egypt.