Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. In the UAE, NCDs account for nearly 77% of all deaths. There is limited empirical research on this topic in the UAE. We aimed to examine the association of non-communicable diseases and the sociodemographic characteristics among the adult population of Dubai. Methods: The study used secondary data from the Dubai Household Health Survey (DHHS), 2019. DHHS is a cross-sectional complex design, stratified by geographic area, and uses multistage probability sampling. In this survey, 2247 families were interviewed and only adults aged 18+ were included for the analysis. The quasi-binomial distribution was used to identify the socio-demographic characteristics association with NCDs. Results: The prevalence of NCDs among the adult population of Dubai was 15.01%. Individuals aged 60+, local Arabs (Emirati), divorced and widowed individuals, and individuals who were not currently working reported NCDs more than the other groups. In the regression analysis, the association with NCDs were reported among elderly people, males, unmarried individuals, older individuals who are unmarried, and Emiratis. Conclusion: The study identified several socio-demographic characteristics associated with reporting NCDs. This is one of the few studies related to NCDs in Dubai. Allocating appropriate resources to the population groups identified is crucial to reduce the incidence of NCDs in the Emirate.

Background: The world as we know it changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope has emerged with the development of new vaccines against the disease. However, many factors hinder vaccine uptake and lead to vaccine hesitancy. Understanding the factors affecting vaccine hesitancy and how to assess its prevalence have become imperative amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, has been modified to the adult VHS (aVHS) and validated in English and Chinese. To our knowledge, no available aVHS has been designed or validated in Arabic or French. Objective: The aim of this research is to translate the aVHS from its original English language to Arabic and French and validate the translations in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. Methods: The study will follow a cross-sectional design divided into 5 phases. In phase 1, the original aVHS will be forward-translated to Arabic and French, followed by backward translation to English. An expert committee will review and rate all versions of the translations. Expert agreement will then be measured using the Cohen kappa coefficient (k). In phase 2, the translated aVHS will be pilot-tested with 2 samples of participants (n=100): a group that speaks both Arabic and English and another that speaks French and English. Participants’ responses to the English version will also be collected. In phase 3, responses will then be compared. Descriptive statistics and paired t tests or one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient will be used in the preliminary validation. In phase 4, prefinal versions (Arabic and French) will be tested with larger sample sizes of Arabic speakers (n=1000) and French speakers (n=1000). Sociodemographic information and vaccination status will be collected and used for further analysis. In phase 5, the scale's statistical reliability and internal consistency will be measured using Cronbach alpha. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) will be used to examine the model fit resulting from the EFA. ANOVA and regression models will be constructed to control for confounders. All data will be electronically collected. Results: As of January 2022, the scale had been translated to Arabic and French and was undergoing the process of back translation. All data collection tools have been prepared (ie, sociodemographics, vaccination status, and open-ended questions) and are ready to go into their electronic formats. We expect to reach the desired sample size in this phase by June 2022. Conclusions: This study will provide researchers with a validated tool to assess adult vaccine hesitancy within populations that speak Arabic and/or French and provide a road map to scale translation and ensure cross-cultural adaptation. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/36928

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is becoming a major threat, large public health challenge and most common persistent developing disorder to a public health in Dubai. Most of the families are facing lifelong challenge because of the different nature of disorders like neurodevelopment disorder, which often results in an array of motor impairments. These motor impairments are the main cause of decrease performance of activities of routine life as well as in societal tasks which require specific motor abilities and skills. Aim: To study the prevalence’s, determinants and prediction of Autism among Dubai population. To study some associated factors. Methodology: Retrospective records review approach has been applied; qualitative methodology has been focus on the groups with mental health experts working at: Dubai Autism Centre (DAC), Al-Jalila hospital (AJH), Latifa hospital, Private Sector Healthcare (PSH), Dubai Rehabilitation Centre for Disabilities. Quantitative methodology is based on the, Prevalence, incidence. Prevalence, incidence is associated on international research (a systematic research review) as estimated as well, along with expert interviews have been applied as well. Results: The study showed that 84.9% of the cases were males and 51.9% of the autism cases were females, 30.9% were UAE nationals and 69.1% were expatriate, about 72.4% were diagnosed as Autism spectrum disorders, 9.2% as ASD features and 9.2% were diagnosed as other disorders. Dubai Autism Centre estimates that autism is affected 1 in 146 births (0.68%). By applying these estimates to the total number of births in Dubai for 2014, it was predicted that approximately 199 children of which 58 (29.1%) were nationals and 141 (70.9%) were non– nationals suffering from autism at the same stage. Some of the families of about 16.4% of children searching help for ASD assessment between the age group 6–18+. Most of the families are not going to consult GPs for early diagnosis because of the number of reasons including cultural reasons. So, it became critical to understand late– stage diagnosis as ASD can be diagnosed much earlier and how many of these later presenters are diagnosed with ASD. The study reflected future prediction of the cases based on international standards prevalence and the population density as reflected by the figure which reflected the highest prevalence at the age intervals of 25-29 years, 30-34 years and 35-39 years respectively. Conclusion: Autism is still on-going challenging public health issue in Dubai, in terms of rising up prevalence, incidences, trends, cases sorting out and management context of autism is one of actual national health care system gaps. There is emergence need of the nurses who are qualified and have the experience to identify children with ASD which is required to implement in regular checkup of school health. Early diagnosis of Autism awareness is increased by giving training to GP’s. There is an urgent need of interdisciplinary innovative autism centre for adult when the children leave the safe environment of the school at 18 years. These needs are followed by further studies to cover take care of needed people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Background: Digital health significantly affects healthcare delivery. Moreover, empirical studies on the utilization of telehealth in Dubai are limited. Accordingly, this study examines the utilization of telehealth services in Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facilities and the factors associated with telehealth appointment completion and turnaround time. Methods: This cross-sectional study examines patients who used telehealth services in DHA from 2020 through 2021 using 241,822 records. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to investigate the association between appointment turnaround time as a dependent variable and patient and visit characteristics as independent variables. Results: Of the total scheduled telehealth visits, more than three-quarter (78.55%) were completed. Older patients, non-Emiratis, patients who had their visits in 2020, patients who had video visits, and those who sought family medicine as a specialty had a shorter turnaround time to receive their appointment. Conclusions: This study identifies several characteristics associated with the turnaround time. Moreover, technological improvements focusing on specialties that can readily be addressed through telehealth and further research in this domain will improve service provision and support building an evidence-base in the government sector of the emirate of Dubai.

Purpose. To study the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of visual impairment (VI) among the Dubai Emiratis and non-Emiratis. Methods. The survey was a population-based cross-sectional eye health study conducted 2019-2020. Cluster sampling was used to randomly select local (Emirati) and expatriate (non-Emirati) Dubai residents aged 40 years and older. Ocular examinations were conducted in selected eye clinics to determine the visual acuity (VA) and cause(s) of VI if any. Trained nurses, optometrists, and ophthalmologists did the examinations. VA was measured using ETDRS visual chart. The World Health Organization VI and blindness definitions and classifications for the cause(s) of VI were used. Results. A total of 892 participants were included in the final analysis. The mean age [SD] was 52.09 [9.48] years, with 55.8 as males. Prevalence of presenting mild, moderate, and severe VI was 4.7 (2.947.11), 1.8 (0.783.5), and 0 for Emiratis, and 3.6 (2.065.76), 1.6 (0.633.21), and 0 for non-Emiratis, respectively. Four Emirati participants were blind, with a prevalence of 0.9 (0.252.28). Men had lower likelihood of VI than women (odds ratio [OR] (95 CI): 0.42 (0.240.77)) after adjustment for covariates. Diabetes (OR (95 CI): 1.91 (1.043.52)) was an independent risk factor for VI. Higher education level was associated with a lower likelihood of VI (OR (95 CI): 0.34 (0.130.89). Leading causes of VI among Emiratis were uncorrected refractive error (52) and cataract (17.2). Glaucoma, optic atrophy, and absent globe were the causes of blindness. Conclusions. Prevalence of VI is comparably low with leading causes readily treatable. An effective strategy to improve spectacle correction and cataract services would reduce the VI burden.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a risk score model for predicting hypertension specific to the population of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to facilitate prevention and early intervention.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from the Dubai Household Health Survey 2019 was conducted. Demographic and physical parameters, as well as blood glucose levels, were included in the data. The risk factors for hypertension were identified using bivariate analysis. A risk score model was developed using the enter method, where all significant predictors of hypertension in bivariate analyses were entered in a single step with the primary outcome of hypertension status (yes/no). The model was validated internally by splitting the data into Emirati and non-Emirati populations.RESULTS: A total of 2,533 subjects were studied. The significant risk factors for hypertension identified were male sex, older age (≥40 years), education level, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia. The model showed a high discrimination ability between individuals with and without hypertension, with an area under the curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 0.79), excellent sensitivity (81.0%; 95% CI, 71.9 to 88.2) and moderate specificity (56.0%; 95% CI, 45.7 to 65.9).CONCLUSIONS: The model developed by this study is simple, convenient, and based on readily available demographic and medical characteristics. This risk score model could support initial hypertension screening and provide an effective tool for targeted lifestyle counselling and prevention programs.