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

BACKGROUND

Noncommunicable diseases are going to be the major challenge to public health in the Eastern Mediterranean area after the control of infectious diseases and malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of abnormal glycemia {diagnosed diabetes mellitus, previously undiagnosed diabetes and impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFG)} in adult non-pregnant population 20 years of age and older in Basrah, Southern Iraq using American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria.

METHODS

Cross-sectional population-based study to screen for diabetes in al-Madina a rural area located 100 km to the north of the Basrah. The study samples were villages residence, intervened at home during vaccination program of their children for the period of April and May 2007. New diabetes diagnosis was based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) equal or more than 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) on two occasions. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or prediabetes used for people whose FPG ranged from 100mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l) to125 mg/dl (6.9 mmol/l).

RESULTS

Total survey sample was 3176 (43.2% males and 56.8% females). Mean age of 43.17+/-16.37. The overall prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 2.14%. People with known diabetes constituted 5.29%. Combined prevalence of new and known diabetes was 7.43%. IFG was seen in 2.02%. Those with abnormal glycemia (diabetes and IFG) constitute 9.45%. Previously undiagnosed diabetics constitute 28.81% of all diabetics in this study.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first baseline data on diabetes mellitus and IFG in Basrah, Iraq. The prevalence was within the wide range of diabetes in Middle East.