Prevalence of prediabetes in Family and Community Medicine Department, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems in twenty-first century. The number of people with diabetes is increasing (366 million people in 2011) due to population growth, aging, urbanization, and increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. Prediabetes, (global prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] 8.3%), typically defined as blood glucose concentration higher than normal, but lower than diabetes thresholds, is a high-risk state for diabetes development. The joint prevalence of diabetes and IGT in Saudi Arabia for people above 30 is 40%. Objective: To study the prevalence of prediabetes in Family and Community Medicine Department, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at Family and Community Medicine Department, Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh, between January 12, 2015 and March 12, 2015. Result: Our data showed prevalence of prediabetes as 23.6%, while 3.8% respondents were newly diagnosed diabetics. Conclusion: Prediabetes has high prevalence in Saudi population; 23.6% of which predict high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the next few years. Prevalence of prediabetes associated with risk factors, which by lifestyle intervention and educational sessions could be minimized.