Qatari Population Research Articles

Whole genome sequencing in the Middle Eastern Qatari population identifies genetic associations with 45 clinically relevant traits

Clinical laboratory tests play a pivotal role in medical decision making, but little is known about their genetic variability between populations. We report a genome-wide association study with 45 clinically relevant traits from the population of Qatar using a whole genome sequencing approach in a discovery set of 6218 individuals and replication in 7768 subjects. Trait heritability is more similar between Qatari and European populations (r = 0.81) than with Africans (r = 0.44). We identify 281 distinct variant-trait-associations at genome wide significance that replicate known associations. Allele frequencies for replicated loci show higher correlations with European (r = 0.94) than with African (r = 0.85) or Japanese (r = 0.80) populations. We find differences in linkage disequilibrium patterns and in effect sizes of the replicated loci compared to previous reports. We also report 17 novel and Qatari-predominate signals providing insights into the biological pathways regulating these traits. We observe that European-derived polygenic scores (PGS) have reduced predictive performance in the Qatari population which could have implications for the translation of PGS between populations and their future application in precision medicine.

Ethnic-specific association of amylase gene copy number with adiposity traits in a large Middle Eastern biobank

Studies assessing the impact of amylase genes copy number (CN) on adiposity report conflicting findings in different global populations, likely reflecting the impact of ancestral and ethnic-specific environment and lifestyle on selection at the amylase loci. Here, we leverage population size and detailed adiposity measures from a large population biobank to resolve confounding effects and determine the relationship between salivary (AMY1) and pancreatic (AMY2A) amylase genes CN and adiposity in 2935 Qatari individuals who underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as part of the Qatar Genome Programme. We observe a negative association between AMY1 CNs and trunk fat percentage in the Qatari population (P = 7.50 × 10−3) and show that Qataris of Arab descent have significantly lower CN at AMY1 (P = 1.32 × 10−10) as well as less favorable adiposity and metabolic profiles (P < 1.34 × 10−8) than Qataris with Persian ancestry. Indeed, lower AMY1 CN was associated with increased total and trunk fat percentages in Arabs (P < 4.60 × 10−3) but not in Persians. Notably, overweight and obese Persians reported a significant trend towards dietary restraint following weight gain compared to Arabs (P = 4.29 × 10−5), with AMY1 CN showing negative association with dietary self-restraint (P = 3.22 × 10−3). This study reports an association between amylase gene CN and adiposity traits in a large Middle Eastern population. Importantly, we leverage rich biobank data to demonstrate that the strength of this association varies with ethnicity, and may be influenced by population-specific behaviors that also contribute to adiposity traits.

A diabetes risk score for Qatar utilizing a novel mathematical modeling approach to identify individuals at high risk for diabetes

We developed a diabetes risk score using a novel analytical approach and tested its diagnostic performance to detect individuals at high risk of diabetes, by applying it to the Qatari population. A representative random sample of 5,000 Qataris selected at different time points was simulated using a diabetes mathematical model. Logistic regression was used to derive the score using age, sex, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity as predictive variables. Performance diagnostics, validity, and potential yields of a diabetes testing program were evaluated. In 2020, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.79 and sensitivity and specificity were 79.0% and 66.8%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were 36.1% and 93.0%, with 42.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. In 2030, projected AUC was 0.78 and sensitivity and specificity were 77.5% and 65.8%. PPV and NPV were 36.8% and 92.0%, with 43.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. In 2050, AUC was 0.76 and sensitivity and specificity were 74.4% and 64.5%. PPV and NPV were 40.4% and 88.7%, with 45.0% of Qataris being at high diabetes risk. This model-based score demonstrated comparable performance to a data-derived score. The derived self-complete risk score provides an effective tool for initial diabetes screening, and for targeted lifestyle counselling and prevention programs.

Mitochondrial haplogroup J associated with higher risk of obesity in the Qatari population

Obesity, a major risk factor for metabolic disorders, is highly prevalent in Qatari population. Maternal transmission of obesity traits can be significant; for example, X haplogroup is known to be associated with lower BMI and body fat mass in Northern Europeans and T haplogroup which is a sister haplogroup of J is known to be associated with obesity in Caucasian subjects from Austria and Southern Italy. We aimed to delineate the mitochondrial haplogroups and variants associated with obesity in Qatari population. Mitochondrial genomes of 864 Qatari individuals were extracted from whole exome sequencing data with an average coverage of 77X. We distributed the participants into 2 sub-cohorts: obese (BMI ≥ 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30); the mean value of BMI from these two groups were 36.5 ± 5.7 and 26.5 ± 2.6, respectively. Mitochondrial haplogroup profiling followed by uni- and multivariant association tests adjusted for covariates were performed. Qatari individuals with mitochondrial haplogroup J had an increased (twofold) risk of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.925; 95% CI 1.234–3.002; P = 0.0038; the Bonferroni adjusted P value threshold is 0.0041), whereas the individuals with haplogroup X were at low risk of obesity (OR 0.387; 95% CI 0.175–0.857; P = 0.019). Further, a set of 38 mitochondrial variants were found to be associated (at P ≤ 0.05) with obesity in models adjusted for age, sex and haplogroup.

A Whole-Genome Sequencing Association Study of Low Bone Mineral Density Identifies New Susceptibility Loci in the Phase I Qatar Biobank Cohort.

Bone density disorders are characterized by a reduction in bone mass density and strength, which lead to an increase in the susceptibility to sudden and unexpected fractures. Despite the serious consequences of low bone mineral density (BMD) and its significant impact on human health, most affected individuals may not know that they have the disease because it is asymptomatic. Therefore, understanding the genetic basis of low BMD and osteoporosis is essential to fully elucidate its pathobiology and devise preventative or therapeutic approaches. Here we sequenced the whole genomes of 3000 individuals from the Qatar Biobank and conducted genome-wide association analyses to identify genetic risk factors associated with low BMD in the Qatari population. Fifteen variants were significantly associated with total body BMD (p < 5 × 10−8). Of these, five variants had previously been reported by and were directionally consistent with previous genome-wide association study data. Ten variants were new: six intronic variants located at six gene loci (MALAT1/TALAM1, FASLG, LSAMP, SAG, FAM189A2, and LOC101928063) and four intergenic variants. This first such study in Qatar provides a new insight into the genetic architecture of low BMD in the Qatari population. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to validate these findings and to elucidate the functional effects of these variants on low BMD and bone fracture susceptibility.

Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary First and Second Molars in a Qatari Population: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of roots and canal configuration of maxillary first and second molars in Qatari population. Materials and Methods A total of 544 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records of Qatari patients were included in this study. The CBCT images were reviewed by two endodontists. The age, sex, bilateral symmetry, root number, and canal configuration according to Vertucci were tabulated. Results About 97.5% maxillary first molars had three roots and 2.5% had two roots. Maxillary second molar showed 88.2% three roots, 7.3% two roots, 3.3% single root, and 1.2% four roots. For maxillary first molars, the most common Vertucci classifications for the mesiobuccal root were type IV (2-2, 35.9%) and type II (2-1, 21.1%). For maxillary second molars, the most common Vertucci classifications for the mesiobuccal root were type IV (2-2, 27%), type III (1-2-1, 21.3%), type I (1, 19.6%), and type II (2-1, 18.9%). In maxillary first molar, 53.1% right is different from the left and in maxillary second molars, 60.2% right is different from the left. Conclusions In Qatari population, three roots are common in maxillary molars. Mesiobuccal root of maxillary first molars is predominant with Vertucci type IV (2-2) and type II (2-1). Maxillary second molars showed variable Vertucci classification. High bilateral asymmetry was found in canal configuration of the same individuals that should be considered during root canal treatment of two opposite molars.

Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Preterm Birth in the state of Qatar: A Population-based Study.

Objectives:To review the demographics and socioeconomic determinants of preterm birth (PTB) compared to term births among the Qatari population.Methods:This was a retrospective data analysis of 59,308 births. Data were retrieved from a Population-based Cohort Study. Data were gathered from the PEARL-Peristat maternal newborn registry for 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2018. We compared the preterm births group (delivery < 37 weeks) with the term group (delivery ≥ 37 weeks) regarding socioeconomic factors, including maternal nationality, religion, level of education, mother’s occupation, family income, housing, consanguinity, early childbearing, high-risk pregnancy, smoking, assisted conception, antenatal care, and place of delivery.Results:The prevalence of preterm birth was 9%. There were more Saudi nations in the preterm group compared to term (33% vs. 28%, p-value < 0.001). There were more preterm births than term births among working mothers (40% vs. 35%), high-risk pregnancies (24% vs. 18%), those that has used assisted conception (18% vs. 3%), those without antenatal care (11% vs. 5.6%), and those delivered in a tertiary women hospital (88.5% vs. 84.5%) (all p-values < 0.001). There were more women living in villas (41% vs. 38%, p = 0.01) and more smokers (0.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.030) in the preterm group than in the term group. There were no differences between the two groups regarding religion, level of maternal education, family income, and early childbearing.Conclusion:In our population, we identified several factors associated with preterm births. (www.actabiomedica.it)

DiaNet: A Deep Learning Based Architecture to Diagnose Diabetes Using Retinal Images Only

Diabetes is one of the leading fatal diseases globally, putting a huge burden on the global healthcare system. Early diagnosis of diabetes is hence, of utmost importance and could save many lives. However, current techniques to determine whether a person has diabetes or has the risk of developing diabetes are primarily reliant upon clinical biomarkers. In this article, we propose a novel deep learning architecture to predict if a person has diabetes or not from a photograph of his/her retina. Using a relatively small-sized dataset, we develop a multi-stage convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model DiaNet that can reach an accuracy level of over 84% on this task, and in doing so, successfully identifies the regions on the retina images that contribute to its decision-making process, as corroborated by the medical experts in the field. This is the first study that highlights the distinguishing capability of the retinal images for diabetes patients in the Qatari population to the best of our knowledge. Comparing the performance of DiaNet against the existing clinical data-based machine learning models, we conclude that the retinal images contain sufficient information to distinguish the Qatari diabetes cohort from the control group. In addition, our study reveals that retinal images may contain prognosis markers for diabetes and other comorbidities like hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The results led us to believe that the inclusion of retinal images into the clinical setup for the diagnosis of diabetes is warranted in the near future.

Clinical Pattern and Treatment Outcome of 43 Patients with Multiple Myeloma at Age of 22-50 (experience from Qatar)

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow, and often result in extensive bone destruction with osteolytic lesions, anemia, hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency. MM usually presents after the fifth decade of life and there are conflicting reports about the clinical features and overall survival in younger age group. Objective: We aim to study the clinical and laboratory features of newly diagnosed untreated Myeloma patients with age 50 years old and below and to describe the first line treatment protocols, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Methods: A retrospective medical record review was conducted in all patients at age of 50 and below, who are diagnosed with MM and treated at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) in Qatar between 2007 to 2019. Relevant clinical and pathological parameters were recorded and correlated with OS and PFS. The analysis was descriptive and exploratory in nature. OS and PFS were descriptively analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA version 12.0 (Statacorp, College Station, TX). Results: A total of 43 cases of MM at 50 years old and below were diagnosed in Qatar in the period between 2007 and 2019.The median age of all patients was 41 years (range, 22-50 years) with (2)5% of patients being younger than 30 years of age, 18(42%) between 30-39 years and 23(53%) between 40 and 50 years 7(16%) were Qatari citizen, there was obvious male predominance with 33 (77%) male and 10 (23%) female. The immunoglobulin (Ig) subtypes were IgG in 15(35%), IgA in 4(9%), free light chain in 18(42%), IgD in 3(7%) and others in 3(7%). At diagnosis,35 patients out of 41 (85%) had bone lesions (lytic lesion or vertebral compression fractures). Twenty patient (46.5%) had extramedullary plasmacytoma, including five patients (11.5%) presented with spinal cord compression. Anemia (with hemoglobin &amp;lt;10.0g/dL) was detected in 17patients (40%),10patients (23%) had hypercalcemia (serum calcium &amp;gt; 11.0 mg/dL), and 11patients (26%) had renal dysfunction (serum creatinine &amp;gt; 2.0 mg/dL) with two patient required hemodialysis at diagnosis. Other laboratory tests revealed albumin &amp;lt; 3.5g/dL in 13(30%) and beta2 microglobulin ≥5.5mg/L in 14(33%). 80% of patients had bone marrow plasmacytosis more than 10%. In 8 patients (19.5%) the bone marrow plasma cells were less than 10% and the diagnosis was based on the presence of plasmacytoma. The data was not available in two patients. The proportion of patients at ISS stage III was 33%. Conventional chromosomal study was performed in 35 patients and chromosomal abnormalities were found in 25.7% (9 out of 35) of the patients. A diverse range of first-line treatments was used. 35 patients (72%) were given induction therapy with a Bortezomib (V)-based regimen (Bortezomib-Dexamethasone)(2) VTD(1), PAD(8), VCD(16), VRD(8) while 3 patients received CTD, 2 patients were given dexamethasone only, one patient received HPERCVAD and 2 patients didn't receive any therapy. 21(48%) of patients underwent autologous stem cell transplant (including 2 tandem), as upfront therapy and 7 patients had second transplant during relapse. The overall response rate (ORR) to first line therapy was 85%, with 46%, of patients having complete response (CR),26% having a very good partial response (VGPR) and partial response (PR) in 14 % while refractory and progressive disease was recorded in 14%. Response was not evaluated in 8 patients (18.5%) due to lack of data. The median follow-up of all patients was 27month, median overall survival (mOS) and Median progression-free (mPFS) were 67.4 and 36.5 month respectively. Conclusion: This is a single Centre preliminary data on MM in young patients, which showed that (MM) in younger age group had different clinical and biochemical pattern with high incidence of light chain myeloma and extramedullary involvements. This study will provide a platform for the design of future comparative studies for patients above and below 50 years in the Qatari population. Figure Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Obesity in Qatar: A Case-Control Study on the Identification of Associated Risk Factors.

Obesity is an emerging public health problem in the Western world as well as in the Gulf region. Qatar, a tiny wealthy county, is among the top-ranked obese countries with a high obesity rate among its population. Compared to Qatar’s severity of this health crisis, only a limited number of studies focused on the systematic identification of potential risk factors using multimodal datasets. This study aims to develop machine learning (ML) models to distinguish healthy from obese individuals and reveal potential risk factors associated with obesity in Qatar. We designed a case-control study focused on 500 Qatari subjects, comprising 250 obese and 250 healthy individuals- the later forming the control group. We obtained the most extensive collection of clinical measurements for the Qatari population from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) repertoire, including (i) Physio-clinical Biomarkers, (ii) Spirometry, (iii) VICORDER, (iv) DXA scan composition, and (v) DXA scan densitometry readings. We developed several machine learning (ML) models to distinguish healthy from obese individuals and applied multiple feature selection techniques to identify potential risk factors associated with obesity. The proposed ML model achieved over 90% accuracy, thereby outperforming the existing state of the art models. The outcome from the ablation study on multimodal clinical datasets revealed physio-clinical measurements as the most influential risk factors in distinguishing healthy versus obese subjects. Furthermore, multiple feature ranking techniques confirmed known obesity risk factors (c-peptide, insulin, albumin, uric acid) and identified potential risk factors linked to obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes (e.g., HbA1c, glucose), liver function (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase), lipid profile (e.g., triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol), etc. Most of the DXA measurements (e.g., bone area, bone mineral composition, bone mineral density, etc.) were significantly (p-value < 0.05) higher in the obese group. Overall, the net effect of hypothesized protective factors of obesity on bone mass seems to have surpassed the hypothesized harmful factors. All the identified factors warrant further investigation in a clinical setup to understand their role in obesity.

High plasma salivary \u03b1-amylase, but not high AMY1 copy number, associated with low obesity rate in Qatari adults: cross-sectional study

The relationship between salivary α-amylase activity (psAAa) or AMY1 copy number and the risk of obesity remains controversial. We aimed to assess this relationship in a cohort from Qatar, where obesity affects 43% of adults. The relationship was investigated cross-sectionally in 923 Qatari adults from the Qatar biobank cohort. AMY1 CN was estimated form whole genome sequencing data. The associations with obesity prevalence were assessed by linear and logistic regressions. We found no difference in AMY1 CN between obese and normal-weight individuals. However, the psAAa was significantly lower in obese individuals. Significant inverse correlations were found between adiposity markers and psAAa in both sexes, but were marginally stronger in men. A significant effect of high psAAa, but not AMY1 CN, on reduced obesity rates was identified in men (OR per psAAa unit 0.957 [95% CI 0.937–0.977], p < 0.001, with psAAa ranging between 5 to 66 U/L). A significantly higher prevalence of obesity was observed in the lowest quartile of psAAa in men (75% (Q1) vs. 36% (Q4), p < 0.001) and women (74% (Q1) vs 56% (Q4), p = 0.009). Our findings suggest that high psAAa, but not AMY1 CN, has a potential positive benefit against obesity in the Qatari population.

Epidemiology of musculoskeletal complaints and diseases in Qatar: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are considered a significant public health problem on account of their high prevalence in communities worldwide and their pervasive impact. Knowledge of the epidemiology of MSK symptoms and diseases is lacking in Qatar. Obtaining this information will guide local health policymakers in the future strategic planning of the health budget.Objective: To estimate the prevalence rate of MSK disorders in the Qatari population above 15 years of age using the Community Oriented Program for the Control of Rheumatic Disease (COPCORD) survey.Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 1000 Qatari participants, including 500 males and 500 females. A door-to-door survey was conducted using the Arabic version of the COPCORD questionnaire with the help of research assistants. Participants with positive surveys were asked to visit Hamad General Hospital Rheumatology outpatient clinics for clinical evaluation by a rheumatologist. When necessary, laboratory testing and X-rays were conducted to confirm any MSK diagnosis.Results: A total of 1239 (males, 50.8%) Qatari individuals randomly selected from the different municipalities of Qatar completed the COPCORD survey. Among the participants, 563 (45.4%) screened positive for MSK pain. Knee pain (24.5%) and back pain (23.3%) were the most common sites of pain, and both conditions showed no gender predominance (p = 0.073 and 0.108, respectively). Shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, and neck pain were significantly predominant in females (p < 0.001 for all). A total of 237 MSK disorders were diagnosed in 196 (15.8%) participants, including 181 degenerative joint diseases, 52 soft-tissue rheumatism conditions, and 4 autoimmune inflammatory disorders. Among degenerative joint diseases, knee osteoarthritis (6.4%) was the most common. Among soft-tissue rheumatic conditions, muscular lower back pain (1.9%), myofascial neck pain (0.64%), generalized body pain (0.32%), and shoulder tendinitis (0.7%) were the most common diseases. The autoimmune inflammatory disorders identified included rheumatoid arthritis (n = 2), connective tissue disease (n = 1), and inflammatory bowel disease-associated arthritis (n = 1).Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of MSK disorders in this small cross-sectional cohort of Qatari individuals was 15.8%. Knee pain (24.5%) and knee osteoarthritis (6.4%) were the most common MSK complaints and diagnosis in the studied Qatari population. This study guides future efforts directed toward the prevention and management of MSK diseases. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify the findings.

Stroke in the adult Qatari population (Q-stroke) a hospital-based retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundStudies assessing the burden of stroke in Qataris are limited. We aim to study stroke in the Qatari population.MethodsA retrospective review was undertaken of all Qatari adults presenting with stroke to Hamad Medical Corporation over a 5-year period. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and all other clinical characteristics of the patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of stroke in the Qatari patients. Comparison was made between the sexes.Results862 patients were included, with 58.9% being male. The average incidence of stroke over the 5-year period was 92.04 per 100,000 adult Qatari population. The mean age of the cohort was 64.3±14.4 years, (range 19–105 years). The mean age of first ever cerebrovascular event was 63.2±14.5 years. The diagnosis was ischemic stroke in (73.7%), transient ischemic attack in (13.8%), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in (11.6%), subarachnoid hemorrhage in (0.7%) and (0.2%) cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Small vessel disease was the most common cause of ischemic stroke accounting for (46.5%), followed by large artery atherosclerosis (24.5%). Hypertension (82.7%) and diabetes (71.6%) were particularly prevalent in this cohort. Females were older (65.8±14.1 vs 63.4±14.5 years), had more hypertension and diabetes and more disability or death at 90 days (p<0.05) compared to Qatari males.ConclusionStroke occurs at a significantly lower age in Qataris compared to the western population. This study has uncovered sex differences that need to be studied further.

ANALYSIS OF THE ANTICIPATED AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF MEGA SPORTING EVENTS IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: A CASE OF THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP IN QATAR

Purpose: This study sought to analyse and determine which of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals will be impacted by the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&#x0D; Methodology: To achieve this, the study adopted an innovative approach and used ordinary linear regression as opposed to conventional logic models applied for such studies. The quantitative data collected was analysed using the SPSS version 25 for data analysis through the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages as well as measures of central tendency such the mean. The target population that gave this data comprised of 100 respondends from the Qatari population, who were clustered into six categories through a multistage sampling design. The clusters included; migrant workers, Qatari nationals working with the government or the private sector, business people, experts in matters related to the SDGs under study, Government departments, and private practitioners such as lawyers.&#x0D; Findings:The study found that respondents anticipate and cited possible Sustainable Development Goals that will be achieved as a result of preparation and actual hosting of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar. These Goals were; Better Health and Wellbeing of all, Gender Equality, Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for all, Improved Infrastructure, Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Fostering Innovation, Peace and Justice for all), and Partnerships as a means of achieving the SDGs.&#x0D; Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy:The study recommends that Qatar should leverage on the advantage of being World Cup hosts to achieve these sustainable Development Goals, and even more.

Willingness to participate in genome testing: a survey of public attitudes from Qatar

Genomics has the potential to revolutionize medical approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but it does not come without challenges. The success of a national population-based genome program, like the Qatar Genome Program (QGP), depends on the willingness of citizens to donate samples and take up genomic testing services. This study explores public attitudes of the Qatari population toward genetic testing and toward participating in the QGP. A representative sample of 837 adult Qataris was surveyed in May 2016. Approximately 71% of respondents surveyed reported that they were willing to participate in the activities of the QGP. Willingness to participate was significantly associated with basic literacy in genetics, a family history of genetic diseases, and previous experience with genetic testing through premarital screening. Respondents cited the desire to know more about their health status as the principle motivation for participating, while lack of time and information were reported as the most important barriers. With QGP plans to ramp up the scale of its national operation toward more integration into clinical care settings, it is critical to understand public attitudes and their determinants. The results demonstrate public support but also identify the need for more education and individual counseling that not only provide information on the process, challenges, and benefits of genomic testing, but that also address concerns about information security.

P79 Visceral Adiposity Index is a Better Predictor of Type 2 Diabetes than Body Mass Index in the Qatari Population

Background The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased recently in Qatar. Body mass index (BMI) is a predictor of T2D in many populations. However, BMI is based on height and weight measurements and not on body adiposity. Therefore, the utility of BMI for predicting the risk of T2D has been questioned, and visceral adiposity appears to be a better predictor of T2D. Objective This study aimed to assess the relative effectiveness of visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body adiposity index (BAI), in comparison with BMI, for T2D among Qatari adults. Study Design, Setting, Participants A random sample of 1103 adult Qatari nationals over 20 years old were included in this study; this data was obtained from the Qatar National Biobank. Measurable Outcome/Analysis We performed a multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between VAI, BAI, BMI, and T2D, and computed z-scores for VAI, BAI and BMI. Results VAI z-scores showed the strongest association with the risk of T2D (OR, 1.44; 95% CI: 1.24–1.68) compared with the z-scores for BAI (OR, 1.15; 95% CI: 0.93–1.43) and BMI (OR, 1.33; 95% CI: 1.11–1.59). Subgroup analyses indicated that the association was stronger between VAI and T2D in Qatari women than in men. Conclusions VAI was a strong and independent predictor of T2D among the Qatari adult population. Therefore, VAI could be a useful tool for predicting the risk of T2D among Qatari adults. Funding Qatar Unversity.

Prevalence and Predictors of Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese Healthy Young Females in Qatar.

The state of Qatar suffers from diabetes epidemic due to obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. However, the prevalence of insulin resistance prior to obesity, which could play an important role in the high prevalence of diabetes, has not yet been described. This study aims to compare the prevalence of insulin resistance in apparently healthy non-obese and obese participants from Qatar and identify the predictors of insulin resistance in different body mass index (BMI)-groups. In this cross-sectional study, 150 young healthy females from Qatar were dichotomized into four groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) based on their BMI. Anthropometric measures as well as fasting plasma levels of lipids, adipokines, blood glucose and insulin were recorded. The prevalence of insulin resistance as per homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was estimated and differences between insulin sensitive and insulin resistant were compared. Linear models were used to identify predictors of insulin resistance in every BMI group. Prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese healthy females from Qatar ranges between 7% and 37% and increases with BMI. Overall, predictors of insulin resistance in the Qatari population are triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and free fat mass but vary according to the BMI group. The main predictors were triglycerides in normal weight, triglycerides/HDL in overweight and triglycerides/HDL and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in obese individuals. The high prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese Qataris may partially explain diabetes epidemic. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings and identify underlying causes for insulin resistance in non-obese individuals in Qatar, aiming at targeted intervention before diabetes onset.

National Biobanking in Qatar and Israel: Tracing how Global Scientific Institutions Mediate Local Ethnic Identities

Biobanks are a growing phenomenon in global biomedicine, as they are key tools of precision medicine initiatives. National biobanks, however, collect data and biological material from populations in specific regions, and the knowledge that national biobanks yield can impact understandings of identity, origins and belonging. Drawing on ethnographic work and documentary analysis examining the Israeli and Qatari national biobanks, I find that these two Middle Eastern biobanks aim to contribute to global biobanking trends, while at the same time, they reinforce local ethnic and national identities. The Israeli biobank reflects pre-existing ethnic identities in Israeli society, while the Qatari biobank predominantly emphasises the emergent national character of the Qatari population. Neither of the biobanks assert a high genetic homogeneity of the national population; rather, they both emphasise a genetically diverse national cohort that is a valuable resource for biomedical research. Through a comparative analysis of global biobanking and ethnic identities, this article demonstrates that biobanks are a rich site for tracking emergent national identities in the Middle East region.

Proteome-wide assessment of diabetes mellitus in Qatari identifies IGFBP-2 as a risk factor already with early glycaemic disturbances

BackgroundProteomics is expected to provide novel insights in the underlying pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we aimed to identify and biochemically characterize proteins associated with diabetes mellitus in a Qatari population. MethodsIn a diabetes case-control study (175 cases, 164 controls; Arab, South Asian and Philippine ethnicities), we conducted a discovery study to screen 1141 blood protein levels for associations with diabetes mellitus. Additional analyses were done in controls in relation to Hb1Ac, and biochemical characterization of the main findings was performed with metabolomics (501 metabolites). We performed two-sample Mendelian Randomization to provide evidence of potential causality using data from European descent of the DIAGRAM consortium (74,124 cases of diabetes mellitus and 824,006 controls) for the identified proteins for T2D and Hb1Ac. ResultsAfter accounting for multiple testing, 30 protein levels were different (p-values<8.6e−5) between cases and controls. Of these, a higher Hb1Ac in controls was associated with a lower IGFBP-2 level (p-value = 4.1e−6). IGFBP-2 protein level was found lower among cases compared with controls across all ethnicities. In controls, IGFBP-2 was associated with 21 metabolite levels, but specifically connected to the metabolite citrulline in network analyses. We observed no evidence, however, that the association between IGFBP-2 and diabetes mellitus was causal. ConclusionsWe specifically identified IGFBP-2 to be associated with diabetes mellitus, although with no evidence for causality, which was specifically connected to citrulline metabolism.

563-P: Differentially Expressed Plasma miRNAs Are Closely Associated with the Presence of Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes: The 1000 Qatar-Omics Study Cohort

Background: In the light of growing global epidemic of T2D and related microvascular complications, it is important to find early detection marker for the disease. Circulating miRNAs serve as a potential biomarker for monitering the progression to DR in diabetic individuals. Hypothesis and Aims: miRNAs play a substantial role in metabolic homeostasis through regulation of multiple genes, and could serve as a prognostic biomarker in DR. This study aims to assess a functional role of selected miRNAs in the Qatari population recruited for the Qatar Genome Project through Qatar BioBank. Methods: Plasma samples from 470 T2D subjects with and without DR and 500 matched-healthy controls has been included in this study. Total RNA was extracted and the expression profiling of 56 miRNA that previously reported as a player in the pathogenesis of DR was performed using custom open array panel. The miRNA expression data were normalized using ath-mir159a. Statistical analysis was performed to study the association between the phenotypes (HbA1c, C-peptide, age, BMI) and miRNA. Results: The patients and controls phenotypic and miRNA expression data were analyzed to interepret the differential expression of the miRNA in DR subjects. Initial analysis by applying the generalized additive model reveals that six miRNA (hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-376c, hsa-miR-92a, hsa-miR-1 hsa-miR-223, and mmu-miR-451) were found to be significantly associated with DR (p&amp;gt;0.05). Furthermore, two differentially expressed miRNAs, (hsa-miR-1274A and hsa-miR-24) found to be associated with higher level of C-peptide in DR patients, which suggest the correlation of these miRNAs with the glucose hemostasis and DR. Conclusion: The etiology of DR is unclear, and present treatments have limited effectiveness. The biomarkers and downstream functional studies are required to deepen the understanding of this chronic diseases and its complications. Disclosure A.S. Akil: None. S. Subash Padmajeya: None. L.A. Jerman: None. A. Al-Kurbi: None. A.M. Hussein: None. A. Hardikar: None. M. Joglekar: None. T. Habib: None. M. El Anbari: None. K. Fakhro: None.