Familial aggregation of T2DM among Arab diabetic population

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of familial history of type 2 diabetes among Arab diabetic patients, compare the maternal and paternal transmission of type 2 DM in patients and evaluate its influence on the clinical characteristics of this disease. This was a cross sectional study. The survey was carried out in urban and semi-urban primary health care [PHC] centers. Of the 2,400 registered with diagnosed diabetes, 1,980 agreed and gave their consent to take part in this study, thus giving a response rate of 82.5 %. DM was defined according to the WHO expert group. Of the study population, 72.9 % reported family history of DM. Family history of DM was significantly higher in females (54.2 %; p = 0.04) and in the age group below 30 years (24 %; p < 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes was higher among patients with diabetic mother (25.4 % vs 22.1 %) and maternal aunts/uncles (31.2 % vs 22.2 %) compared to patients with diabetic father and paternal aunts/uncles. Family history of DM was higher in patients of consanguineous parents (77.4 %) than those of nonconsanguineous parents (70.4 %). The present study has found a significant maternal effect in transmission of T2 DM. Family history is associated with the increased incidence of diabetes.