PREVALENCE OF GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE IN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SAUDI-ARABIA

The prevalence and associated factors for glucose intolerance among Sa udi populations in urban and rural communities were investigated among 13177 subjects, 15 years and over, from different regions of Saudi Ar abia. The data were standardized using the known age structure of the Saudi population. The sample was randomly selected from subjects who p articipated in the National Epidemiological Household Study for Chroni c Metabolic Diseases. Medical and social history was ascertained from all the study population during house visits. All subjects were then r equested to attend a local primary care centre for physical examinatio n and phlebotomy for measurement of random plasma glucose (RPG). A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was employed for subjects with borderlin e values. WHO criteria for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and imp aired glucose tolerance (IGT) were applied. Mean RPG from the urban po pulation was significantly higher than in the rural population. Age ad justed prevalence of DM was significantly higher in the urban populati on (males 12 %, 95 % CI 11-13 and females 14 %, 95 % CI 13-15) than in the rural population (males 7 %, 95 % CI 7-8 and females 7.7 %, 95 % CI 7-9) and is among the highest in the world. The prevalence of DM in creased with age. The lowest and highest prevalences of DM in the urba n population were 2 % for subjects aged 15-20 years and 49 % for femal e subjects aged 51-60 years. The lowest and highest prevalences of DM among rural population were 1 % for subjects aged 15-20 years and 29 % for female subjects over the age of 60 years. Fifty-six per cent of d iabetic patients were newly diagnosed at the time of the study. Age ad justed prevalence of IGT was not significantly higher in the urban pop ulation. The highest prevalence of obesity, BMI>30, was among urban fe male subjects. Age, obesity, and family history of DM were associated with DM. Considering the young nature of Saudi population, the prevale nce is expected to increase in the near future. There is a need to dev elop a multi-disciplinary approach for the general population with spe cial attention to female subjects for prevention through controlling m odifiable risk factors such as obesity and sedentary life style, impro ving glycemic control of the diabetic population, and early identifica tion and treatment of diabetic complications. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.