To describe current prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We used data from the cross-sectional UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB), which surveyed adult expatriates living in the UAE for at least 4 years. We report crude prevalence of overweight and obesity, indicated by gender and ethnicity-specific body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) cut-offs, by lifestyle and biomedical characteristics, as well as age and sex-adjusted odds ratios. Out of a total of 3064 recruited expatriates (response rate 68%), 2724 had completed all stages of the UAEDIAB study. Expatriates were; 81% men, mean age 38 years (range 18–80), 71% South East Asians, and 36% university graduates. In this sample, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, by BMI, were 43.0 and 32.3%, respectively. 52.4 and 56.5% of participants were at a substantially increased risk according to WC and WHR, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were 15.5, 31.8, and 51.7%, respectively, with the prevalence of each being higher in those with obesity. Prevalence of obesity and associated NCDs are extremely high in UAE expatriates. Without comprehensive prevention and management, levels of disease will continue to increase and productivity will fall.

The economic growth has paralleled the rise of diabetes and its complications in multiethnic population of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Previous studies have shown that characteristics of diabetes is variable across different ethnicities. The objective of this study was to compare diabetes prevalence and risk factors between UAE nationals and different expatriate’s ethnic groups in UAE using data from UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB). The UAE nationals made one-fourth (n = 797, 25%) of total cohort and the remaining 75% belonged to immigrants. Across different ethnicities, adjusted prevalence of prediabetes ranged from 8% to 17%, while adjusted prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes ranged from 3% to 13%. UAE nationals, Arabs non-nationals and Asians had the highest number of pre-diabetic as well as newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Adjusted prevalence of diabetes was highest in UAE nationals (male 21% and female 23%) as well as Asian non-Arabs (male 23% and female 20%), where 40% of both groups fell under the range of either prediabetes or diabetes conditions. Multivariate factors of diabetes versus non-diabetes included older age, ethnicities of Asian non-Arabs and local UAE nationals, family history of diabetes, obesity, snoring, decreased level of high density lipoprotein, elevated levels of triglycerides and blood pressure. In conclusion, diabetes prevalence and risk factors vary across the different ethnic groups in UAE, and hence interventions towards identification and prevention of diabetes should not treat all patients alike.

Support for patient self-management is an accepted role for health professionals. Little evidence exists on the appropriate basis for the role of health professionals in achieving optimum self-management outcomes. This study explores the perceptions of people with type 2 diabetes about their self-management strategies and how relationships with health professionals may support this.

Type 2 diabetes is very prevalent in the Gulf region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has the second highest prevalence in the world. Factors contributing to this include changes in diet, adoption of sedentary lifestyles, and the consequent increase in rates of obesity. These changes are primarily due to rapid economic development and affluence. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress and its correlates in diabetic patients in the United Arab Emirates.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risk factors among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents.Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among adults living in Sharjah and Northern Emirates using the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB) data. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained. The National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) guidelines were used to define metabolic syndrome (MetS).Results: A total of 3,212 subjects (74.1% men, 25.9% women, mean age 39 ± 11.3 years old) were included in this study. The overall prevalence of MetS was 37.4% (32.7% in women and 39% in men). The prevalence was 33.6% in the Emirati population (38.7% in women and 28.8% in men), 34.5% in the Arab non-Emirati population (29.8% in women and 36.3% in men) and 40.7% in the Asian non-Arab population (25.8% in women and 43.1% in men). Age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status and body mass index were positively associated with MetS.Conclusions: This study indicates a high burden of MetS in the UAE, particularly among Emirati women and Asian non-Arab men. The young adult population in the UAE has a high prevalence of MetS compared to global estimates in the same age group. Aggressive intervention strategies targeting the whole population as well as individuals at a high risk are recommended to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Background: No population study has explored the population distribution of adult asthma in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The objective is to estimate asthma prevalence in general population in UAE. Methods: Using standard European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaires and tools, this is a cross-sectional assessment of a random sample of the population in established quotas of the seven Emirates in the UAE. We surveyed 1,220 participants, of which 63.2% were male, and 20.1% were UAE Nationals, with a mean (SD) age of 32.9 (14.1) years. Results: Prevalence of individual respiratory symptoms from the ECRHS screening questionnaire in all participants were generally ranging 8 - 10%, while participants 20-44 years presented lower prevalence in all symptoms (p < 0.05). The expected male:female ratio of reported wheezing and asthma attacks and its treatment by age was not observed. Participating women reported more individual symptoms than men. Overall, there were 15.4% (95% C.I. 13.5 - 17.5) participants who fulfilled our screening criteria for asthma, while for consistency with ECRHS, there were 12.1% (95% C.I. 10.4 - 14.1) participants who fulfilled the ECRHS asthma definition, being 9.8% (95% C.I. 7.8 - 12.2) of those 20-44 years, that is 8.6% of male and 11.8% of female young adults participating. Conclusion: We conclude that asthma is common in the UAE, and gender differences are not observed in reported asthma symptoms in young adults. This being the first population based study exploring the prevalence of asthma and its determinants in the United Arab Emirates based on the ECRHS.