Weqaya: a population-wide cardiovascular screening program in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

We sought to determine cardiovascular risk factor prevalence rates among adults in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

We used self-reported indicators, anthropometric measures, and blood tests to screen 50 ,138 adults aged 18 years or older taking part in a population-wide cardiovascular screening program.

Participants' mean age was 36.82 years (SD = 14.3); 43% were men. Risk factor prevalence rates were as follows: obesity, 35%; overweight, 32%; central obesity, 55%; diabetes, 18%; prediabetes, 27%; dyslipidemia, 44%; and hypertension, 23.1%. In addition, 26% of men were smokers, compared with 0.8% of women. Age-standardized diabetes and prediabetes rates were 25% and 30%, respectively, and age-standardized rates of obesity and overweight were 41% and 34%.

This population-wide cardiovascular screening program demonstrated a high cardiovascular burden for our small sample in Abu Dhabi. The data form a baseline against which interventions can be implemented and progress monitored as part of the population-wide Abu Dhabi Cardiovascular Disease Program.