title: Weqaya: a population-wide cardiovascular screening program in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine cardiovascular risk factor prevalence rates among adults in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used self-reported indicators, anthropometric measures, and blood tests to screen 50 ,138 adults aged 18 years or older taking part in a population-wide cardiovascular screening program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' mean age was 36.82 years (SD = 14.3); 43% were men. Risk factor prevalence rates were as follows: obesity, 35%; overweight, 32%; central obesity, 55%; diabetes, 18%; prediabetes, 27%; dyslipidemia, 44%; and hypertension, 23.1%. In addition, 26% of men were smokers, compared with 0.8% of women. Age-standardized diabetes and prediabetes rates were 25% and 30%, respectively, and age-standardized rates of obesity and overweight were 41% and 34%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This population-wide cardiovascular screening program demonstrated a high cardiovascular burden for our small sample in Abu Dhabi. The data form a baseline against which interventions can be implemented and progress monitored as part of the population-wide Abu Dhabi Cardiovascular Disease Program.
authors.affiliation: Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. chajat@haad.ae
authors.forename: Cother
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hajat
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Zaid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al Siksek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult