DUBAI // Rapid population growth and a high percentage of young working men in Dubai have been cited as factors behind a survey showing decreasing prevalence of diabetes in the emirate.
Released on Wednesday, the Dubai Health Survey 2014 questioned 5,000 residents and revealed a drop in diabetes numbers to 11.6 per cent, compared with 13.23 per cent of a similar survey number in 2009.
Numbers of expatriates diagnosed with diabetes also decreased from 6 per cent in 2009 to 4.16 per cent in 2014.
The overall Dubai figure is lower than the national rate of 14.6 per cent. The International Diabetes Federation this week said there were just over one million diabetics in the country, an increase of 35 per cent from 2014.
Dr Fatheya Al Awadi, chair of DHA Diabetes Committee and head of the Endocrinology department at Dubai Hospital, said diabetes is decreasing due to the increasing child birth rate over the death rate in Dubai.
Annual population growth has averaged 7.7 per cent and is considered among the highest population growth in the world, with about 64 per cent of Dubai’s population under 35, so at lower risk from the disease.
“While data is showing that there is a decrease in the prevalence of diabetes, as the population ages they might move from low risk to high risk, which is why there is a need to put in place preventive programmes,” she said.
“The majority of expats who come to the UAE are working young males who are at a low risk of diabetes.”
The survey found that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among residents of Dubai - 11.6 per cent - is slightly higher than the Mena prevalence, which is 10.7 per cent.
Results showed the majority of those with diabetes are aged 60 to 69 (53.8 per cent), followed by those aged 50 to 65 (30.22 per cent).
Prevalence naturally decreases significantly among younger people, and the survey found 15.38 per cent of those aged 40 to 50 were diabetic; 3.57 per cent of 30 to 40-year-olds were; and just 1.04 per cent of 20 to 30-year-olds are diabetic.
DHA is considering opening an extra specialist diabetes treatment centre to help cope with anticipated demand for future services.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 415 million people worldwide were diagnosed with diabetes in 2015 and this number is expected to increase to 642 million in 2040.
Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the board and director general of DHA, said: “Diabetes has become a threat not only to the UAE or GCC countries but the world.
“DHA is aware of the significance if this issue, which is why it has launched a number of awareness campaigns, public health policies and programmes.”
nwebster@thenational.ae