Increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Oman

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Abstract
Aims To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impairedfasting glucose by age, gender, and by region and compare resultswith the 1991 survey; and estimate previously undiagnosed diabetesmellitus in the Omani population.Methods Cross‐sectional survey containing a probability random sample of5838 Omani adults aged ≥ 20 years. Diabetesand impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were assessed by fasting venous plasmaglucose using 1999 World Health Organization's diagnosticcriteria (normoglycaemia < 6.1 mmol/l, IFG ≥ 6.1 but < 7 mmol/l,and diabetes ≥ 7 mmol/l). The 1991 surveywas reanalysed using the same diagnostic criteria, and results werecompared.Results In 2000, the age‐adjusted prevalence of diabetes among Omanis aged30–64 years reached 16.1% (95% confidenceinterval (CI) 14.7–17.4) compared with 12.2% (95% CI11.0–13.4) in 1991. IFG was found among 7.1% (95% CI6.2–8.1) of males and 5.1% (95% CI 4.4–6.0)of females. Generally, diabetes was more common in urban then ruralregions. Only one‐third of diabetic subjects knew that they haddiabetes. Nearly half of the study population had a body mass index > 25 kg/m2.Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes is high in Oman and has increasedover the past decade. The high rate of abnormal fasting glucosetogether with high rates of overweight and obesity in the population makeit likely that diabetes will continue to be a major health problem inOman. Primary prevention programmes are urgently needed to counteract majorrisk factors that promote the development of diabetes.Diabet. Med. 19, 954–957 (2002)

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