Abou-Rbiah Yunis, Weitzman Shimon
Rahat Clinic, Clalit Health Services, Rahat, Israel.
Isr Med Assoc J. 2002 Sep;4(9):687-9.
Previous studies have shown a low prevalence of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors among Bedouins living in the Negev desert. New evidence suggests that diabetes is becoming highly prevalent.
To estimate the prevalence of diabetes in the town of Rahat, describe the cardiovascular risk factor profile and therapeutic modalities for diabetes and related conditions in this population, and compare these findings with those in the Jewish population.
A complete record review of all known diabetic individuals aged 35 and older registered at the Rahat Clinic (Clalit Health Services) was carried out by a trained nurse and a research assistant. Information on demographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics was abstracted. Data on prescribed hypoglycemic agents and other medications were also obtained.
Of the 316 known diabetic patients in the clinic, complete data were available for 271 (85.8%). The prevalence of known diabetes was 7.3% in males and 9.9% in females. Females had a significantly higher body mass index than males (30.9 vs. 29, P < 0.002), but lower levels of HBA1c and microalbuminuria. Oral hypoglycemic medications were taken by 69% of women and 76% of men, and insulin by 19% of women and 15% of men.
Compared with data on Jewish diabetic patients in the Negev and Israel, the overall prevalence of diabetes in the population of Rahat is higher, but their cardiovascular risk profile is better, except for obesity. These findings support the hypothesis that diabetes and obesity have become major public health problems among Bedouins.
先前的研究表明，生活在内盖夫沙漠的贝都因人中糖尿病及其他心血管危险因素的患病率较低。新的证据表明糖尿病正变得极为普遍。
评估拉哈特镇糖尿病的患病率，描述该人群中糖尿病及相关病症的心血管危险因素概况和治疗方式，并将这些结果与犹太人群的结果进行比较。
一名经过培训的护士和一名研究助理对拉哈特诊所（克拉利特医疗服务机构）登记的所有35岁及以上已知糖尿病患者的完整记录进行了审查。提取了有关人口统计学、人体测量学和临床特征的信息。还获取了有关处方降糖药和其他药物的数据。
诊所里316名已知糖尿病患者中，271名（85.8%）有完整数据。已知糖尿病的患病率男性为7.3%，女性为9.9%。女性的体重指数显著高于男性（30.9对29，P<0.002），但糖化血红蛋白和微量白蛋白尿水平较低。69%的女性和76%的男性服用口服降糖药，19%的女性和15%的男性使用胰岛素。
与内盖夫和以色列犹太糖尿病患者的数据相比，拉哈特人群中糖尿病的总体患病率较高，但除肥胖外，他们的心血管危险因素状况较好。这些发现支持了糖尿病和肥胖已成为贝都因人主要公共卫生问题这一假设。
