title: The prevalence, risk factors, and screening measure for prediabetes and diabetes among Emirati overweight/obese children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) among overweight/obese children and adolescents using different diagnostic/screening methods in comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited overweight/obese Emirati students; grade 6-12 (age 11-17 years) from 16 government schools in Sharjah (UAE). Anthropometric, demographic, and clinical history data was measured by standard methods. Body mass index (BMI) was categorized according to BMI percentile charts for age and sex - CDC. Capillary fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured by finger prick test, followed by confirmatory oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and venous HbA1c for students with abnormal capillary FBG and/or HbA1c.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 1034 participants (45 % females) median age 14.7 years, 443 (43 %) students had abnormal screening results. The prevalence of prediabetes and T2D was 5.4 % and 0.87 %, respectively, based on OGTT (gold standard). HbA1c showed a considerable discrepancy regarding the prevalence of prediabetes (21.9 %), but not diabetes. There was a statistically significant difference in the BMI Z-scores between the three different groups of students showing normal glycemic testing, prediabetes and T2D (p = 0.041). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that glycemic status was significantly associated with family history of T2D first-degree relatives [OR 1.87: 95 % CI: 1.04-3.36; P = 0.036], parents employment [OR 1.79: 95 % CI: 1.06-3.02; P = 0.029] and levels of triglycerides [OR 2.28: 95 % CI: 1.11-4.68; P = 0.024].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was high among overweight/obese Emirati children and adolescents. The numbers for prediabetes were considerably higher when using HbA1c as compared to OGTT. Overall adiposity, family history of T2D, employment and high levels of triglycerides were risk factors associated with abnormal glycemic testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Al Qassimi Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box: 3500, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. elham.amiri@moh.gov.ae.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. mona.abdullatif@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdullatif
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. asmabdulle@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdishakur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdulle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Al Qassimi Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box: 3500, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. nmf-albitar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nibal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al Bitar
authors.affiliation: Department of School Health, Ministry of Health, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. elham_afandi@live.com.
authors.forename: Elham Zaki
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Afandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Al Qassimi Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box: 3500, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. drmp_82@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Monira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. ghassan.darwiche@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Gassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Darwiche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004651:Employment; D005190:Family; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides