About 19.05% are known diabetics while 7.14% were newly diagnosed as diabetics

Print

 Pakistan Diabetes Survey 2016-2017

About 19.05% are known diabetics while
7.14% were newly diagnosed as diabetics

Prevalence of Pre-diabetes was seen as high as 14.47%

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Diabetes Survey 2016-2017 conducted by Baqai Institute Dialectology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University in collaboration with Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Pakistan Health Research Council and Diabetic Association of Pakistan and WHO Collaborating Centre Karachi has claimed that there are about 19.05% people known to be suffering from diabetes while another 7.14% have been newly diagnosed to be suffering from diabetes. Findings of this survey were presented at a conference held here recently.

A press release issues by Prof. Abdul Basit states that Pakistan has an estimated 6.9 million people with diabetes and this number is predicted to increase to 14.4 million by the year 2040 according to an International Diabetes Federation (IDF).1 This number is extrapolated on the basis of surveys done by the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center in 199`.2-6 Hence, a repeat survey was needed to estimate the recent numbers of people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Thus, a community-based Pakistan Diabetes Survey (PDS) 2016-17 was conducted over a period of one year from September 2016 to August 2017 in all provinces of Pakistan (i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pukhtunkhawa and Baluchistan). Ethical approval was obtained from National Bioethics Committee (NBC) Pakistan and Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi.

WHO criteria for diagnosis of diabetes was used in this survey. Blood samples were drawn at fasting state (at least 8 hours) and after 2 hours of glucose intake (75g anhydrous glucose load). This survey estimated prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan as high as 26.19% in people aged ≥ 20 years. Around 19.05% are known diabetics while 7.14% have been newly diagnosed as diabetics in this survey. Similarly, prevalence of Pre-diabetes as high as 14.47% was observed in Pakistan.

More than half (52.2%) of the population were hypertensive, 27.5% individuals were known hypertensive and 24.7% were newly diagnosed with hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mm/hg). Three forth of the participants (76.2%) were overweight (BMI ≥ 23). Similarly, high prevalence (62.1%) of obese (BMI ≥ 25) population was found as per Asian cutoff. According to WHO 62.1% (BMI ≥ 25) and 47.5% (BMI ≥ 27) were found as overweight and obesity respectively.  The figures are alarming and underscore the urgent need for national programs to prevent diabetes, to manage the illness and thus prevent complications.

Prof. Abdul Basit from BIDE was the Principal Investigator while Dr.Asher Fawwad was the co-investigator. Seventeen team it is said, facilitated the survey conducted all over Pakistan in various cities which included the following:

  1. Prof. Qazi Masroor, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College - BAHAWALPUR
  2. Prof. Ahmed Bilal, Punjab Medical College - FAISALABAD
  3. Dr. Maqsood Mehmood, GUJRANWALA
  4. Dr. Khurshid Ahmed, Zahid Medical Centre - HUB
  5. Prof. Bikha Ram Devrajani, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences - HYDERABAD
  6. Prof. Jamal Zafar, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences - ISLAMABAD
  7. Dr. Asher Fawwad, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University - KARACHI
  8. Dr. Riasat Ali Khan and Dr. Asima Khan –KARACHI
  9. Prof. Bilal Bin Younus, Sakeena Institute of Diabetes & Endocrine Research - LAHORE
  10. Dr. Tahir Rasool and Dr. Wasif Noor, Akhuwat Health Services – LAHORE
  11. Dr. Mujeeb Ur Rehman Abro, LARKANA
  12. Dr. Ashfaq and Dr. Yasir,MANSEHRA
  13. Dr. Pir Alam,MARDAN
  14. Prof. Salma Tanveer, Nishter Hospital & Medical College - MULTAN
  15. Dr. Sobia Sabir Ali, Lady Reading Hospital -PESHAWAR
  16. Prof. Abrar Shaikh, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College -SUKKUR
  17. Dr. Aamir Khowaja and Dr. Raheela Khowaja, THATTA

REFERENCES

  1. International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Atlas 7th edition 2015.
  2. Shera AS, Jawad F, Maqsood A. Prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2007;76:219-22.
  3. Shera AS, Rafique G, Khwaja IA, Ara J, Baqai S, King H. Pakistan national diabetes survey: prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in Shikarpur, Sindh Province. Diabetic Med 1995;12:1116-21.
  4. Shera AS, Rafique G, Khwaja IA, Baqai S, Khan IA, King H. Pakistan National Diabetes Survey prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in North West at Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc 1999;49:206-11.
  5. Shera AS, Rafique G, Khawaja IA, Baqai S, King H. Pakistan National Diabetes Survey: prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in Balochistan province. Diabetes Res ClinPract 1999;44:49-58.
  6. Shera AS, Basit A, Fawwad A, Hakeem R, Ahmedani MY, Hydrie MZ, et al. Pakistan National Diabetes Survey: prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated factors in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Prim Care Diabetes 2010;4: 79-83.