Spousal Concordance of Diabetes Mellitus among Women in Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2016, Vol 16, Issue 2
Abstract
Objectives: Spousal concordance is defned as similar behaviours and associated health statuses between spouses. Tis study aimed to identify the concordance of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related variables among genetically unrelated couples in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: Tis cross-sectional study included 270 married women attending either the Mushairef Health Center or the Gulf Medical College Hospital in Ajman between May and November 2012. A validated questionnaire was designed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and a history or family history of DM, hypertension, coronary artery disease or dyslipidaemia among the women and their husbands. Te weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of all women were measured. Results: Of the women, 39.3% of those with diabetic husbands and 39.9% of those with non-diabetic husbands were diabetic themselves (P >0.050). Te prevalence of DM spousal concordance was 17.8%. A history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and dyslipidaemia was signifcantly more frequent among women whose husbands had a history of the same conditions (P = 0.001, 0.040 and 0.002, respectively). Spousal concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands was signifcant (P = 0.001). Having a diabetic husband (P = 0.006) and being obese (P = 0.009) were the only signifcant predictors of hyperglycaemia among non-diabetic women after controlling for confounding factors. Conclusion: Tere was signifcant concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands. Te spouses of diabetic patients may therefore be a target population for regular hyperglycaemia and DM screening.
Authors and Affiliations
Shatha S. Al-Sharbatti| Department of Community Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Yasmeen I. Abed| Department of Community Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Lujain M. Al-Heety| Mushairef Health Center, Ministry of Health, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 3Department of Medicine, Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Shaikh A. Basha| Department of Community Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP14666
- DOI -
- Views 344
- Downloads 16
Regional Variation in the Prevalence of Asthma Symptoms among Omani School Children Comparisons from Two Nationwide Cross-sectional Surveys Six Years Apart
Te International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) highlighted the presence of wide variations in asthma prevalence between and within countries. Te aim of this study was to determine the changes in the...
Growth in the Number of Female Medical Doctors in Oman What are the reasons?
Icterus Neonatorum in Near-Term and Term Infants An overview
Neonatal jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of the skin and/or sclerae of newborn infants caused by tissue deposition of bilirubin. Physiological jaundice is mild, unconjugated (indirect-reacting) bilirubinaemia,...
Solitary Peripheral Osteoma of the Hard Palate Case report and literature review
Osteomas are benign slow-growing osteogenic lesions of unknown aetiology which can be central, peripheral or extraskeletal. Peripheral osteomas of the maxilla are very uncommon. We report a 72-year-old female patient w...
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to HIV Stigma and Discrimination Among Healthcare Workers in Oman
Objectives: Stigma and discrimination undermine the quality of life of people with HIV and their access to health services. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare worke...