BackgroundThe evaluation of metabolic syndrome in a society predisposed to the diabetes mellitus epidemic opens a new avenue to understanding this rapidly growing global metabolic problem. Although Saudi Arabia reports one of the highest prevalence levels of obesity and diabetes, a very limited number of epidemiological studies have examined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors among the adult Saudi population in comparison to other countries.MethodsA total of 12,126 Saudi subjects were randomly recruited from the 13 administrative regions, and evaluated for metabolic syndrome and its risk factors. This exercise was carried out by trained physicians, through clinical evaluations and overnight fasting blood glucose and lipid profile measurements. Both the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and modified National Cholesterol Education Program and Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) Criteria were employed, and subjects with metabolic syndrome were identified using country-specific waist circumference cutoff values.ResultsThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Saudi Arabia was found to be 39.8% (34.4% in men and 29.2% in women) and 31.6% (45.0% in men and 35.4% in women), according to the NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria, respectively. Metabolic syndrome was also observed to be more prevalent among men and older subjects. The most frequently observed component of metabolic syndrome was found to be low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), followed by abdominal obesity. The most significant risk factors in the studied cohort included age ≥ 45, smoking history, low educational level, and living in urban areas.ConclusionsThis study shows a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Saudi Arabia, and thereby warrants urgent implementation of preventive health care strategies to reduce both morbidity and mortality related to this medical problem.

IntroductionResistance to thyroid hormone is a rare syndrome, where although the level of thyroid hormone is elevated, the level of thyroid stimulating hormone is not suppressed. The patient in our case report is, to the best of our knowledge, the first with this syndrome identified in Oman.Case presentationIn one Omani family, a 15-year-old girl of Arabian origin was pre-diagnosed with resistance to thyroid hormone. Blood sample was collected and deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated for molecular genetic testing. The results revealed a rare mutation A268G in the gene for thyroid hormone receptor beta. We believe that this mutation is the cause of the pathology in our patient.ConclusionWe report the presence of a rare mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor beta gene for the first time in the Omani population. Due to the rates of consanguinity being high among the Omani population, we are aiming to screen our patient’s family members and provide genetic counseling.

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Musculoskeletal diseases are frequently seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The link between low back pain and type 2 diabetes mellitus remains unclear. This study aimed to find the prevalence of low back pain among Omani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine patients’ disability related to low back pain. Methods: Two hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this cross sectional study, who attended the diabetic clinic in Suhar polyclinic and Suhar hospital, North Batinah, Oman. Data collection tool was a pretested structured questionnaire, as well as the medical records collection for all the participants. The patients’ related disability to low back pain was assessed using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Results: Of the 200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 60% (120) reported low back pain. From those who had low back pain, around half (50.8%) had a minimal disability and more than one third (37.6%) had a moderate disability related to low back pain. The low back pain was mostly present in females (65.9%), those with a family history of low back pain (87.6%) and those using insulin to control diabetes (100%), (P<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of low back pain is high among Omani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and significantly high among females, those with a family history of low back pain and those using insulin to control diabetes. A significant percentage of patients had minimal to moderate disabilities related to low back pain which necessitate an implantation of the preventative and educational measures to minimize the burden of the low back pain among diabetic patients.

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