International Cardiovascular Forum Journal (Jan 2017)

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): The Africa Middle East (AfME) Cardiovascular Epidemiological (ACE) Study Sub-Analysis

  • Ghazi Radaideh,
  • Nikolaos Tzemos,
  • Talaha Mubarak Ali,
  • Yasser Eldershaby,
  • Jean Joury,
  • Paula Abreu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17987/icfj.v11i0.414
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11
pp. 6 – 12

Abstract

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Background: The Africa Middle East (AfME) Cardiovascular Epidemiological (ACE) study demonstrated that cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent among relatively young adult outpatients attending general practice clinics across AfME regions. Objective Based on broader AfME estimates from the ACE Study, this sub-analysis evaluated the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly in rural and urban cohorts attending general practice clinics. Methods Data from the cross-sectional ACE study were used, comprising stable, adult outpatients attending general practice clinics in the UAE. The prevalence of six cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, abdominal obesity. Rural populations were defined as living >50km from urban centers, or lack of transportation. Results In this cohort of 495 patients (aged 45.1 years; 49.8% female) from the UAE, a high prevalence of abdominal obesity (71.5%) and dyslipidemia (74.0%) was found. Nearly half of patients had hypertension (43.0%) and one-third diabetes (32.4%). Nearly all outpatients (92.9%) had ≥1 modifiable risk factor (74.9% had ≥1, 59.7% had ≥3). Observations were similar by gender, and across urban and rural centers. Many outpatients with pre-existing hypertension or dyslipidemia did not meet recognized blood pressure or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals. Conclusions Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent among relatively young adult, clinically stable outpatients attending clinics across the UAE. These findings support targeted screening of outpatients visiting a general practitioner, which may provide opportunity for early discovery and ongoing management of risk factors, including recommending lifestyle changes. The ACE trial is registered under NCT01243138.

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