Does Sickle Cell Disease Protect Against Diabetes Mellitus?: Cross-sectional study

Ali A Suwaidan; Fathia Al-Qurashi; David L Whitford

Does Sickle Cell Disease Protect Against Diabetes Mellitus?: Cross-sectional study

Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2015 Feb;15(1):e116-e119. Epub 2015 Jan 21.

Authors

Ali A Suwaidan¹, Fathia Al-Qurashi², David L Whitford³

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain.
² Department of Haematology, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
³ Department of Family & Community Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain.

PMID: 25685370
PMCID: PMC4318591

Abstract

Objectives: The co-existence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and sickle cell disease (SCD) is rare. This study aimed to explore whether SCD patients have the same DM prevalence as the general population in a country with a high prevalence of DM.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included all SCD adult patients admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, between 2003 and 2010 (n = 2,204). A random sample (n = 520) was taken to establish the prevalence of DM. Laboratory records were examined to determine the presence of DM.

Results: There were 376 SCD patients with complete records; of these, 24 (6.4%) had DM. The age- and sex-standardised prevalence of DM was 8.3%.

Conclusion: While the prevalence of DM in SCD patients in Bahrain was high, it was lower than expected in this population. SCD may have a protective effect towards DM development. However, the impact of these two conditions on vascular diseases suggest a need for screening and aggressive treatment in this population.

Keywords: Bahrain; Comorbidity; Diabetes Mellitus; Epidemiology; Prevalence; Sickle Cell Disease; Vascular Diseases.