Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing concern in the Arab world, with university students increasingly at risk due to lifestyle factors. This study aims to assess T2DM risk, knowledge, and beliefs among university students aged ≥ 18 years in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. A multinational, cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2025 among university students aged ≥ 18 years in Egypt (lower-middle-income), Saudi Arabia (high-income), and Yemen (low-income). A multistage, stratified purposive sampling technique was used to recruit students equally from medical and non-medical faculties in at least three universities per country. Data were collected via structured, interview-based questionnaires consisting of four components: (1) socio-demographic and anthropometric data; (2) the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire-18 (DKQ-18); (3) the Health Belief Model Scale (HBMS); and (4) the validated Arabic version of the Australian type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK). Among 2787 university students, the mean age was 21.0 years, with the majority being female (74.9%), and enrolled in medical faculties (58.2%). Diabetes knowledge was significantly higher in Egyptians (72.6% with good knowledge) compared to Saudis (63.9%) and Yemenis (59.8%) ( p < 0.001). Health beliefs followed a similar trend, while diabetes risk was significantly higher among Yemeni students (22.0% with severe risk; p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that a higher academic year was a positive predictor of both diabetes knowledge (β = 0.155, p < 0.001) and health beliefs (β = 0.152, p < 0.001), and was negatively associated with diabetes risk (β = − 0.061, p < 0.001). Medical faculty enrollment was also positively associated with knowledge (β = − 0.411 for non-medical faculty, p < 0.001) and beliefs (β = − 0.228 for non-medical faculties, p < 0.001). Parental education and income were positively associated with knowledge and beliefs. Specifically, father’s higher education predicted greater knowledge (β = 0.047, p < 0.001), and household income was a significant predictor of both knowledge (β = 0.042, p < 0.001) and beliefs ( p < 0.001). In contrast, diabetes risk was independently associated with male gender (β = 0.305, p < 0.001), older age (β = 0.123, p < 0.001), higher BMI (β = 0.284, p < 0.001), and Yemeni nationality (β = 0.080, p < 0.001). Marked differences in diabetes risk, knowledge, and beliefs were observed among students from the three countries. Interventions targeting high-risk groups are essential to improve diabetes awareness and prevention in young adults. Countries like Yemen may benefit from urgent preventive measures, while countries with moderate risk profiles may focus on health promotion and sustained education to avert future disease burdens.

Background: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are chronic systemic conditions that impose significant physical and psychosocial burdens. Psychiatric comorbidities, particularly depression and anxiety, are increasingly recognized in patients with RMDs, yet remain underexplored in Middle Eastern populations.Objectives: To assess the prevalence and severity of psychiatric disorders among Egyptian patients with RMDs and to identify predictors of depression and anxiety.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients with RMDs attending Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt, from February to August 2023. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment data were collected. Psychiatric evaluation was performed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of major depressive disorder and panic disorder.Results: The study population was predominantly female (94.8%) with a median age of 37.5 years. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus were the most prevalent diagnoses. Psychiatric disorders were highly common, with panic attacks, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety being the most frequent. Depression severity was mostly mild, while marked anxiety predominated across several RMD subtypes. Logistic regression revealed that a history of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy significantly predicted major depressive disorder and panic attacks (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Psychiatric comorbidities are highly prevalent among Egyptian patients with RMDs, with pregnancy-related psychiatric history serving as a strong predictor of depression and panic attacks. Routine psychiatric screening and integrated multidisciplinary care are essential to optimize outcomes and quality of life in this patient population.