Researchers in the UAE are seeking thousands of Emiratis to participate in a study that will help them to understand the reasons behind the high levels of diabetes and obesity in the country.
A partnership between Dubai Health Authority and New York University Abu Dhabi will build on the early stages of the UAE Healthy Future Study that was sidelined this year by the coronavirus pandemic.
So far, 4,000 citizens have taken part in Abu Dhabi, but doctors and academics now want to expand the cohort to 20,000 people across the country.
Diabetes is starting too early in our society and we want to understand why that is
Data collected will support the Public Health Research Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi to determine the risk factors and causes of common health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
“We want to highlight again the chronic diseases in the country and expand on the project started three years ago to become a national initiative,” said Dr Muna Tahlak, chief executive officer of Latifa Hospital for Women and Children.
“This is one of the best studies we can do to look at risk factors.
“We know what they are from other studies abroad, but there is nothing specific to this region.”
Study results will be evaluated in detail every five years for the next 20 years or so, to gain a wider understanding of the risk factors associated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
These will include genetic, microbial and biochemical factors gleaned from a simple health and lifestyle questionnaire, physical measurements, blood and urine samples and a mouth rinse.
Subjects will be contacted again for follow-up questions or be required to have a repeat assessment by visiting a health clinic.
Health will be monitored over the future years in the first longitudinal study of its kind on Emiratis.
The results will enable health authorities to provide tailored advice and services to meet the needs of citizens.
“Genetically, we know that many things are different [with Emiratis] and the whole world is not the same,” Dr Tahlak said.
“We want healthy Emiratis over the age of 18 to take part.
“Once we recruit them they will be in the study for years to come with annual follow-ups in questionnaires on their lifestyle and health, so we can come up with good data to find out what are the biggest risk factors for these chronic diseases.
“This will only succeed with willing participants.”
The DHA and Department of Health Abu Dhabi are already involved in the research, with the Ministry of Health and Prevention due to follow with a co-operation agreement.
Participants can sign up online and visit the Dubai blood bank to have their measurements checked. Other emirates will also list drop-in clinics where Emiratis can take part.
“This is a major collaboration between public health institutions and academia in the UAE,” said Dr Abdishakur Abdulle, associate director of the Public Health Research Centre, NYUAD.
“We cannot reach out to the community without the help of health authorities and the public.
“Previously, we have found people have not had the time or the ease of access to give us the required information, but now it is easier than ever.”
Few studies exist of demographics of Arab descent and health authorities are restricted to following medical research conducted on Caucasian populations from Europe and America.
The study closest in similarity to the research planned for the UAE Healthy Future project was published in 2006.
A cohort of 1,500 UAE citizens between 35 and 70 took part in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological survey to look at health-related behaviours.
A follow-up Ministry of Health and Prevention report in 2015 revealed cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of premature death in the UAE.
It is most commonly attributed to obesity, high-blood pressure, lack of physical activity and smoking.
The World Health Organisation also cited it as the primary cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.5 million deaths in 2012, about 31 per cent.
Doctors said screening for certain conditions should be tailored to suit the local population and not from international data.
“Screening criteria for diabetes patients usually begins in those aged 40 and over,” said Dr Fatheya Al Awadi, consultant endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital and chairperson of DHA’s diabetes committee.
“From a Dubai household survey conducted by the DHA and Dubai Statistics Centre last year, we learnt that diabetes starts at a much younger age in our population."
The survey revealed 19 per cent of Emiratis in Dubai were diabetic, with a further 12 per cent pre-diabetic.
In those over 40, almost half had the condition, while doctors said more people under 18 also had high blood sugar levels.
“Our screening age will come down to 30 under new guidelines to better match the needs of our population," Dr Al Awadi said.
“It is starting too early in our society and we want to understand why that is.”
To register to take part in the study, Emiratis can visit https://uaehealthyfuture.ae/en/home-2.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
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Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
HAJJAN
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Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
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