MUSCAT: A total of 94,921 cases diabetic cases were registered at national level in 2017, including 6,360 new cases in various governorates of Oman.
As per the Ministry of Health’s 2017 annual report, out of the 6,360 new cases registered during 2017, women constituted 51.8 with 3,198 cases against 2,863 men. About 14 per cent of the cases registered were in the age group 40-44 years, followed by the age group 50-54 years (13.6 per cent) and the age group 45-49 years (13.5 per cent). The highest number of new cases was reported in North Al Batinah (1,515) followed by Muscat (1,164). Only 101 cases were reported in Al Wusta and Al Buraimi governorates. Studies have shown that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing.
The National Health Survey of diabetes conducted in 1991 showed that the prevalence was 9.75 per cent, while the National Health Survey for 2000 showed prevalence increased to 11.6 per cent among adults over 20 years of age. The National Health Survey in the year 2008 showed prevalence increased to 12.3 per cent. Aware of this problem, the Ministry of Health has taken several steps to improve the healthcare provided to such patients including both preventive and curative measures. As for the detection rates of non communicable diseases among people above 40 years of age in 2017, about 24,882 were screened and 14.6 per cent had hypertension and 8.9 per cent had fasting blood sugar. About 58.7 per cent of the cases registered were with no complications, hypertension BP > 140/90 was diagnosed in 27.2 per cent of diabetes patients at time of registration.
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