Diabetes screening in Basrah, Iraq: a population-based cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Endocrinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Noncommunicable diseases pose a significant public health challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
• The study addresses the growing concern of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in Southern Iraq.
• Establishing baseline data is crucial for understanding and managing the diabetes epidemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of abnormal glycemia, including diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and IFG.
• To assess the prevalence of these conditions in the adult non-pregnant population (≥20 years) of Basrah, Southern Iraq.
• To utilize the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria for diagnosis and classification.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in al-Madina, a rural area near Basrah.
• Home-based screening for diabetes occurred during a vaccination program from April to May 2007.
• Diabetes was diagnosed based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dl on two occasions; IFG was defined as FPG 100-125 mg/dl.

Main Results:

• A total of 3176 individuals were surveyed, with a mean age of 43.17 years.
• The combined prevalence of known and undiagnosed diabetes was 7.43% (undiagnosed: 2.14%; known: 5.29%).
• Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was present in 2.02% of the population, with abnormal glycemia (diabetes and IFG) affecting 9.45%.

Conclusions:

• This research provides the first baseline epidemiological data on diabetes mellitus and IFG in Basrah, Iraq.
• The observed prevalence rates fall within the reported range for the Middle East.
• The findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions to address abnormal glycemia in the region.