Socioeconomic and Behavioral Disparities Among Diabetics in Saudi Arabia: A Nation-Wide Descriptive Study

Rasha A Almubark; Nora A Althumairi; Adel A Alhamdan; Heba Y AlNujaidi; Reem Alzayer; Sarh A Almubark; Nasser F BinDhim

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S352769

Socioeconomic and Behavioral Disparities Among Diabetics in Saudi Arabia: A Nation-Wide Descriptive Study

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2022 Sep 2:15:2693-2703. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S352769. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Rasha A Almubark^{1

2}, Nora A Althumairi¹, Adel A Alhamdan³, Heba Y AlNujaidi⁴, Reem Alzayer⁵, Sarh A Almubark⁶, Nasser F BinDhim^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Department, Sharik Research Institution, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Medical Sciences, Community College, Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
³ Community Health Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
⁴ College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Pharmacy Department, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Health Services Management Department, Faculty of public health, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
⁷ College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical factors in adult participants with Diabetes in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 20492 potential participants conducted in quarters 1 and 2 in 2021 from all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. A backward maximum likelihood logistic regression model, including all variables, was used to identify variables associated with participants living with Diabetes.

Results: A total of 14007 participants, aged ≥18 years, completed the interview, with a response rate of 68.3% and successful quota sampling. Fifty percent were male, the mean age was 36.7 (SD 13.7; range: 18-90). Of the total sample, 1633, 11.7% had Diabetes. Seven percent only of diabetic patients (124 participants) had an acceptable level of fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, only (274, 16.8%) had an acceptable level of physical activity, compared to (2389, 19.3%) in the non-diabetic group. Daily smokers were slightly higher in the diabetic group compared to the non-diabetic group (13.2% vs 11.7%). Hypertension was reported mostly by the diabetic group (45.1% vs 8%). Overweight and Obesity were more prevalent in patients with Diabetes (72.50% vs 51.62%). The results of the logistic regression have shown that several sociodemographic, behavioral and intermediate risk factors were significantly associated with Diabetes.

Conclusion: The study found that the prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia is around 12%, which is lower than the previously reported prevalence of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Diabetes was found to be associated with lower educational level, smoking, obesity and overweight, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. These factors are essential to be identified and screened in the community at regular interval; furthermore, controlling these factors may improve their disease management and quality of life. Additionally, knowing these factors will assist policymakers to shape an effective practical approach to combat diabetes widespread.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; diabetes mellitus; diet; epidemiology; surveillance.