title: Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus in Oman: Results from two decades of research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of diabetes mellitus over the past two decades in Oman, particularly in terms of its prevalence and incidence. In addition, the study sought to estimate the future incidence of diabetes in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three national and three regional surveys conducted between 1991 and 2010 were analysed to obtain the age-adjusted prevalence and undiagnosed proportion of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Omani subjects aged ≥20 years. Diabetes mellitus registers and published studies were used to determine incidence rates of both type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM in Oman. Linear regression was used to determine trends and projections for diabetes in 2050.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age-adjusted prevalence of T2DM in Oman varied from 10.4% to 21.1%, while the highest prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was found in males (35.1%). In comparison to men, higher incidence rates of T2DM were found in women (2.7 cases compared to 2.3 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively). No significant trends were observed for the prevalence or incidence of T2DM in both genders. Undiagnosed T2DM was more common in men (range: 33-68%) than women (range: 27-53%). The results of this study show that by 2050, there will be an estimated 350,000 people with T2DM living in Oman (a 174% increase compared to estimates for 2015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health authorities need to prioritise diabetes prevention and control in order to prevent or delay long-term complications and avert a potential epidemic of diabetes in Oman.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Non-Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Jawad A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Lawati
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panduranga
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Muscat Private Hospital, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Hala A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Research, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Magdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohsin
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;
authors.forename: Rajiv B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Hawra J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Al-Lawati
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Riad A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bayoumi
keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Epidemiology; Incidence; Oman; Prevalence; Trends