The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia

Suliman Alghnam, Saleh A. Alessy, Mohamed Bosaad, Sarah Alzahrani, Ibrahim I. Al Alwan, Ali Alqarni, Riyadh Alshammari, Mohammed Al Dubayee and Majid Alfadhel
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Suliman Alghnam: Population Health Section-King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Saleh A. Alessy: Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Bosaad: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA 15261, USA
Sarah Alzahrani: Population Health Section-King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim I. Al Alwan: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Ali Alqarni: King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Alahsa 11426, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Alshammari: School of Public Health, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al Dubayee: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Majid Alfadhel: Medical Genomic Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and its association with diabetes and hypertension among beneficiaries in the National Guard Health Affairs system of Saudi Arabia. We included individuals aged 17 years and older, and patients were classified as diabetic or hypertensive if they had any visit during the 4 years where the primary diagnosis was one of those conditions or they were taking diabetes or hypertension medications. The association between obesity (body mass index ≥30) and diabetes and hypertension were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusting for age, gender, nationality, and region. A total of 616,092 individuals were included. The majority were Saudi nationals (93.1%). Approximately 68% of the population were either obese (38.9%) or overweight (29.30%). Obesity was more prevalent among Saudi nationals (39.8% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.01) and females (45.3% vs. 31.2%, p < 0.01). Obesity was independently associated with diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.24, p < 0.01) and hypertension (OR = 2.15, p < 0.01). The prevalence of obesity in the study population was alarming and more pronounced among women. Our findings call for efforts to intensify preventive measures to reduce obesity and associated conditions. Using electronic records to examine the impact of interventions to reduce obesity and chronic conditions may help monitor and improve population health.

Keywords: obesity; diabetes; electronic health record; hypertension; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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