Aim To examine the metabolic control and presence of
complications, among a cohort of diabetic patients in Lebanon. Method A total of 313 diabetic patients presenting for their usual care were screened in a cross-sectional manner for metabolic control and presence of complications at the American University of Beirut.
Results Only 235 subjects completed their data of whom 220 (93%) had type 2 diabetes with mean duration of disease of 8.2 (±6.6) years. Only 30% had haemoglobin A1C < 7%, and 35.5% had low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol < 2.6 mmol/L. About 50.5% were obese, 34.9% current smokers, and 40.7% had blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg. Microvascular complications were present as 46.3, 39.9 and 33% for albuminuria, neuropathy, 33% for albuminuria, neuropathy, and retinopathy, respectively. Macrovascular complications were as follows: 19.3, 18.3 and 4.1% for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease, respectively.
Conclusions This study highlights the poor control and high prevalence of vascular complications among adult type 2 diabetic patients in Lebanon.
Hossain P., Kawar B., El Nahas M.Obesity and diabetes in the develop
2.
ing world a growing challenge. N Engl J Med2007;356:213-16.
3.
Hirbli K., Jambeine M., Slim H. et al. Prevalence of diabetes in greater Beirut. Diabetes Care2005;28:1262.
4.
WHO2008, Prevalence of diabetes in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Available from: http://www.who.int/diabetes/facts/world_figures/en/index2.html
5.
ADA.Standards of medical care in diabetes. Diabetes Care2007;30:S4-S41
6.
Akel M., Hamadeh G.Quality of diabetes care in university health center in Lebanon. Int J Qual Health Care1999;11:517-21.
7.
Major S., Salti I., Masri A. et al. Managing diabetes mellitus in a Lebanese Primary Care Center . Working towards change. Leb Med J1998;46:182-7
8.
Salti I., Khogali M., Alam S. et al. Epidemiology of diabetes in relation to other cardiovascular risk factors in Lebanon. East Mediterr Health J1997;3:462-71.
9.
Unnikrishnan R., Rema M., Pradeepa R. et al. Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic nephropathy in an urban South Indian population: the Chennai Urban Epidemiology study. Diabetes Care2007;30:2019-24.
10.
Girach A., Manner D., Porta M.Diabetic microvascular complications: can patients at risk be identified? A review. Int J Clin Pract2006;11:1471-83.
11.
Al-Maskari F., El-Sadig M.Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Ophthalmol2007;7:11.
12.
Rema M., Premkumar S., Anitha B. et al. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in urban India: the chennai urban rural epidemiology study (CURES). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci2005;46:2328-33.
13.
Fleming B., Greenfield S., Engelgau M. et al. The Diabetes Quality Improvement Project: moving science into health policy to gain an edge on the diabetes epidemic. Diabetes Care2001;24:1815-20.
14.
Saaddine J. , Cadwell B., Gregg E. et al. Improvements in Diabetes Processes of Care and Intermediate Outcomes: United States, 1988-2002 . Ann Intern Med2006;144:465-74.
15.
Aace.DM Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus. Endocr Pract2007;13:40-7.
