Trends in the burden of type 2 diabetes and its risk factors in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Saudi Arabia is one of the countries with the highest burdens of type-2 diabetes (T2D) in the world. The aim of this study  was to analyse the changing trends in the burden of T2D and the impact of its major risk factors in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: Data for T2D come from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Decomposition analysis was used to decompose the long- term burden trend into population size, population age, prevalence, and disease severity.

Results: In 2019, T2D in Saudi Arabia caused 245 548.4 DALYs (95% UI: 187 706.3–316 976.4), with age-standardised incidence and  prevalence increasing by 63.5% (95% UI: 53.8%–73.5%) and 75.7% (95% UI: 65.4%–87.1%), respectively. There was a gradual increase in the  proportion of burden caused by T2D in the age group below 40 years from 1990 to 2019. T2D DALYs due to population size, ageing,  and prevalence all increased to varying degrees, while T2D DALYs resulting from disease severity gradually decreased. The greatest  increase in T2D DALYs has been linked to environmental particulate pollution over the past 30 years, and obesity is the main cause of T2D  DALYs in Saudi Arabia. 

Conclusions: The burden of T2D in Saudi Arabia has been increasing continuously over the past three decades,  with a trend towards younger age. The decrease in disease burden due to disease severity is partially offset by population size and  ageing. Considering the continued increase in the burden of T2D, it is necessary to control T2D risk factors to curb the growth of the T2D  disease burden in Saudi Arabia.