Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus among patients with β-thalassemia major in the United Arab Emirates

Le résumé fourni par la source

Background: The risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) development is a significant concern for patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM), primarily because of iron overload from frequent blood transfusions and chelation therapy. Research indicates that DM prevalence among β-TM patients is higher than in the general population and is estimated to be 10.5% in the United Arab Emirates. This study aimed to update the data on DM prevalence and clinical correlations in this population. In addition, it evaluates the effectiveness of fructosamine as a predictive marker for DM in patients with β-TM. Methods: A total of 252 patients with β-TM were recruited in a cross-sectional study. All clinical and laboratory variables of the patients were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software package. Results: Based on the medical records, 38 patients (15.1%) were found to have DM; most were over the age of 25 years. Patients with DM showed elevated random glucose and fructosamine levels compared to non-DM patients. The serum ferritin levels remained consistent. Fructosamine positively correlated with random point-of-care testing (POCT) glucose levels. Similarly, ferritin was correlated with random glucose and POCT glucose but inversely correlated with Vitamin D. Magnetic resonance imaging T2 imaging revealed moderate-to-severe pancreatic iron overload in 20 patients. Fructosamine emerged as a significant predictor of diabetes in patients with β-TM, exhibiting high accuracy. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of DM among patients with β-TM in the United Arab Emirates, surpassing previous estimates. These findings emphasize the critical need for regular screening and proactive healthcare interventions to improve patient outcomes and enhance overall quality of life.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.