BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is associated with various complications and imposes significant economic pressures.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological status and the burden of T2D in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries during 1990-2019; to inform targeting of prevention strategies.

METHODS

The study population included 21 countries, covering a population of about 400 million. The global burden of disease 2019 database was used. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were computed by summing up the years of life lost and the years lived with disability. Prevalence, incidence, death rates and DALY rates per 100 000 people for all locations by age-standardized rates were calculated.

RESULTS

In 2019, Qatar had the highest prevalence [16312.4; 95% unit interval (UI): 15050.0-17723.2] and incidence rates (818.0; 95% UI: 773.9-868.7) of T2D Bahrain had the highest death (127.0; 95% UI: 102.5-154.6) and DALYs (3232.5; 95% UI: 2622.4-3929.3) rates In the MENA area, average DALY rates increased by nearly 31% (808.3 to 1060.8) and average death rates increased by 0.2% (24.8 to 25.2) during 1990-2019. The highest increase for T2D-related DALYs (516.5 to 958.1; 85%) and the highest increase for T2D-related deaths (12.5 to 22.0; 76%) was in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence, incidence, deaths and DALYs rates for T2D have continued to increase in most of the MENA countries. Health care systems must make efforts to control modifiable risk factors.