Incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in the United Arab Emirates; comparison of six diagnostic criteria: The Mutaba'ah Study.

Background: For more than half a century, there has been much research and controversies on how to accurately screen for and diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). There is a paucity of updated research among the Emirati population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The lack of a uniform GDM diagnostic criteria results in the inability to accurately combine or compare the disease burden worldwide and locally. This study aimed to compare the incidence of GDM in the Emirati population using six diagnostic criteria for GDM. Methods: The Mutaba'ah study is the largest multi-center mother and child cohort study in the UAE with an 18-year follow-up. We included singleton pregnancies from the Mutaba'ah cohort screened with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-32 weeks from May 2017 to March 2021. We excluded patients with known diabetes and with newly diagnosed diabetes. GDM cumulative incidence was determined using the six specified criteria. GDM risk factors were compared using chi-square and t-tests. Agreements among the six criteria were assessed using kappa statistics. Results: A total of 2,546 women were included with a mean age of 30.5 ± 6.0 years. Mean gravidity was 3.5 ± 2.1, and mean body mass index (BMI) at booking was 27.7 ± 5.6 kg/m2. GDM incidence as diagnosed by any of the six criteria collectively was 27.1%. It ranged from 8.4% according to the EASD 1996 criteria to 21.5% according to the NICE 2015 criteria. The two most inclusive criteria were the NICE 2015 and the IADPSG criteria with GDM incidence rates of 21.5% (95% CI: 19.9, 23.1) and 21.3% (95% CI: 19.8, 23.0), respectively. Agreement between the two criteria was moderate (k = 0.66; p < 0.001). The least inclusive was the EASD 1996 criteria [8.4% (95% CI: 7.3, 9.6)]. The locally recommended IADPSG/WHO 2013 criteria had weak to moderate agreement with the other criteria, with Cohen's kappa coefficient ranging from (k = 0.51; p < 0.001) to (k = 0.71; p < 0.001). Most of the GDM risk factors assessed were significantly higher among those with GDM (p < 0.005) identified by all criteria. Conclusions: The findings indicate discrepancies among the diagnostic criteria in identifying GDM cases. This emphasizes the need to unify GDM diagnostic criteria in this population to provide accurate and reliable incidence estimates for healthcare planning, especially because the agreement with the recommended criteria was not optimal.

Systematic review of the effects of pandemic confinements on body weight and their determinants.

Pandemics and subsequent lifestyle restrictions such as 'lockdowns' may have unintended consequences, including alterations in body weight. This systematic review assesses the impact of pandemic confinement on body weight and identifies contributory factors. A comprehensive literature search was performed in seven electronic databases and in grey sources from their inception until 1 July 2020 with an update in PubMed and Scopus on 1 February 2021. In total, 2361 unique records were retrieved, of which forty-one studies were identified eligible: one case­control study, fourteen cohort and twenty-six cross-sectional studies (469, 362 total participants). The participants ranged in age from 6 to 86 years. The proportion of female participants ranged from 37 % to 100 %. Pandemic confinements were associated with weight gain in 7·2­72·4 % of participants and weight loss in 11·1­32·0 % of participants. Weight gain ranged from 0·6 (sd 1·3) to 3·0 (sd 2·4) kg, and weight loss ranged from 2·0 (sd 1·4) to 2·9 (sd 1·5) kg. Weight gain occurred predominantly in participants who were already overweight or obese. Associated factors included increased consumption of unhealthy food with changes in physical activity and altered sleep patterns. Weight loss during the pandemic was observed in individuals with previous low weight, and those who ate less and were more physically active before lockdown. Maintaining a stable weight was more difficult in populations with reduced income, particularly in individuals with lower educational attainment. The findings of this systematic review highlight the short-term effects of pandemic confinements.

Effects of Diabetes Prevention Education Program for Overweight and Obese Subjects with a Family History of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study from the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: The association of obesity and family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) provides an opportunity for risk stratification and prevention, as these two conditions are the most well-known risk factors for T2DM. We aimed to test the feasibility and effects of a diabetes mellitus prevention education program designed for overweight and obese Emirati people with at least one parent with T2DM. METHODS: We conducted a pilot study using a pre-post design without a control arm at the Diabetes Center at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, UAE. Overweight and obese subjects with at least one parent with T2DM were invited to participate. Three study assessments were conducted at baseline, three months, and six months including a questionnaire, anthropometry, and laboratory assessments. Interventions included three individualized or family-engaged counseling sessions based on the DiAlert protocol. The study outcomes included awareness of risks and prevention opportunities to T2DM, behavior changes in nutrition and exercise, decreased waist-circumference, and clinical/metabolic/inflammatory markers. Pre-post changes were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two overweight or obese individuals were approached. Forty-four individuals met the eligibility criteria, and 32 individuals (35.0±9.0 years; 75.0% female) completed the study. At six months, there were significant improvements in the glycated hemoglobin levels (p = 0.007), high-density lipoprotein (p < 0.049), serum creatinine (p < 0.025), estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.009), and adiponectin levels (p < 0.024). Sixteen of 32 participants had ≥ 2 cm reduction in waist circumference. They demonstrated notable physical and laboratory improvements in moderate-vigorous activity, average activity counts per day, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein. CONCLUSIONS: Offering family-oriented diabetes education to people at risk for T2DM is well received and has favorable effects on relevant risk factors. Better testing with large-scale randomized controlled studies is needed, and implementing similar educational programs for the Emirati population seems warranted.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome of Acromegaly in the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to ascertain the clinical characteristics and control rate of acromegaly in the UAE. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with acromegaly to six endocrine centers in the UAE between November 2010 and December 2018. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and radiologic data were collected. Patients were considered controlled if normal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and growth hormone < 1 mcg/L were achieved at their last visit. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were included in the study (60.0% males, 33.3% native UAE nationals). The mean age at diagnosis was 37.2 (range: 12-69) years. Common clinical features at diagnosis were headache (82.4%), coarse facial features (82.4%), acral enlargement (79.7%), and sweating (31.3%). Diabetes mellitus/prediabetes and hypertension were present in 45.2% and 35.5% of patients, respectively. About 82.2% had pituitary macroadenoma on pituitary magnetic resonance imaging. At presentation, 27.0% and 3.2% of the patients had secondary hypogonadism and diabetes insipidus, respectively. Overall, 76.7% of the patients underwent surgery, 20.8% received radiotherapy, and 50.7% received medical therapy. At their last clinic visit, only 43.7% of all patients achieved disease control. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a high prevalence of pituitary macroadenoma in our acromegalic population, suggesting a delayed diagnosis. Also, a significant proportion of patients remained uncontrolled. Efforts to increase physician's awareness of acromegaly and to improve disease control are underway.

Terrestrial snakebites in the South East of the Arabian Peninsula: patient characteristics, clinical presentations, and management.

BACKGROUND: To describe the characteristics, clinical presentations, management and complications of snakebites in the border region between Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Buraimi, Sultanate of Oman. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We carried out a retrospective review of medical records to study snakebite cases over four-year duration at three tertiary hospitals. Overall, 64 snakebite cases were studied with median hospitalization of 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-4) days. The majority of cases were male (87.5%), and most (61%) of the incidents occurred during summer months. The bite sites were predominantly (95%) to the feet and hands. Main clinical features included pain, local swelling, and coagulopathy, blistering and skin peeling. Overall, there were no deaths, but few major complications occurred; extensive skin peeling (n = 5, 8%), multi-organ failure (n = 1, 1.5%), and compartment syndrome (n = 1, 1.5%). Polyvalent anti snake venom (ASV), analgesia, tetanus toxoid, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics such as ampicillin, cloxacillin, and cephalosporins were commonly instituted as part of treatment protocols in the three hospitals. CONCLUSION: The overwhelming majority of bites occurred during summer months, and envenomations were more common in, relatively, young male farmers, but with no serious clinical complications. Prevention and treatment strategies should include increasing public awareness, developing management guidelines, and manufacturing specific ASV for a wide spectrum of the local venomous snakes.

Glycemic indices of five varieties of dates in healthy and diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the glycemic indices of five commonly used varieties of dates in healthy subjects and their effects on postprandial glucose excursions in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Composition analysis was carried out for five types of dates (Tamer stage). The weights of the flesh of the dates equivalent to 50 g of available carbohydrates were calculated. The study subjects were thirteen healthy volunteers with a mean (± SD) age of 40.2 ± 6.7 years and ten participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (controlled on lifestyle measures and/or metformin) with a mean HbA1c (± SD) of 6.6 ± (0.7%) and a mean age (± SD) of 40.8 ± 5.7 years. Each subject was tested on eight separate days with 50 g of glucose (on 3 occasions) and 50 g equivalent of available carbohydrates from the 5 varieties of date (each on one occasion). Capillary glucose was measured in the healthy subjects at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min and for the diabetics at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min. The glycemic indices were determined as ratios of the incremental areas under the response curves for the dates compared to glucose. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mean glycemic indices ± SEM of the dates for the healthy individuals were 54.0 ± 6.1, 53.5 ± 8.6, 46.3 ± 7.1, 49.1 ± 3.6 and 55.1 ± 7.7 for Fara'd, Lulu, Bo ma'an, Dabbas and Khalas, respectively. Corresponding values for those with type 2 diabetes were very similar (46.1 ± 6.2, 43.8 ± 7.7, 51.8 ± 6.9, 50.2 ± 3.9 and 53.0 ± 6.0). There were no statistically significant differences in the GIs between the control and the diabetic groups for the five types of dates, nor were there statistically significant differences among the dates' GIs (df = 4, F = 0.365, p = 0.83). CONCLUSION: The results show low glycemic indices for the five types of dates included in the study and that their consumption by diabetic individuals does not result in significant postprandial glucose excursions. These findings point to the potential benefits of dates for diabetic subjects when used in a healthy balanced diet. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01307904.

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis: a case series, review of the literature and update of management.

The objective of this study was to present a case series of patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. We described all patients with diagnosis of hypokalemic periodic paralysis admitted to the Al Ain Hospital (UAE) during the year 2006. Seventeen patients, all males and mostly Asians, were presented to the Al Ain Hospital over a 12-month period. The majority were admitted during the summer months. Four were thyrotoxic. All of the 17 patients received oral potassium supplements and recovered well without any major complications. In conclusion, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion, especially among Asians presenting with flaccid paralysis and hypokalemia. The main steps in the management include exclusion of other causes of hypokalemia, potassium replacement, hydration and close monitoring of the cardiac rhythm and serum potassium levels. When possible, the underlying cause must be adequately addressed to prevent the persistence or recurrence of paralysis.

Pericarditis with cardiac tamponade and addisonian crisis as the presenting features of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To present 3 cases of cardiac tamponade and addisonian crisis as the presenting features of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) type II. METHODS: We present the clinical features, physical examination findings, radiographic findings, and laboratory investigations in 3 patients and provide an overview of the published cases of pericarditis and APS type II found in a MEDLINE search. RESULTS: Patient 1, a 34-year-old woman, and Patient 3, a 35-year-old woman, had known autoimmune thyroid disease. Patient 2 was a 58-year-old man with no known history of autoimmune disease. All presented with a history of long-standing lethargy, nausea, weight loss, dyspnea, chest pain, and striking hyperpigmentation. Physical examination, laboratory, and radiographic findings were consistent with cardiac tamponade and addisonian crisis. In all 3 patients, serum cortisol was either very low or undetectable with a subnormal response to cosyntropin (250 mcg) stimulation. Cells in the pericardial fluid were predominantly neutrophils, and findings from cytology, microbiology, and serology investigations were normal. Symptoms and pericardial fluid resolved during treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids and various anti-inflammatory agents. Over the follow-up period of at least 2 years, all 3 patients experienced recurrent pericarditis and/or pleuritis despite replacement doses of glucocorticoids, which resolved with high-dose anti-inflammatory therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Pericarditis is a rare, but life-threatening manifestation of APS type II that is currently not considered to be a key manifestation of the syndrome. Our experience suggests that APS should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with unexplained pericarditis. In patients with established APS, one should be vigilant for the development of recurrent pericarditis.