Overweight and obesity are driving the diabetes epidemic in the Middle East region, with up to 75 per cent of adults and up to 40 per cent of under-18s overweight or obese, a report said.

Consequently, the financial burden of diabetes in the region is high and has the potential to rise even further, added the new report entitled Diabetes in the Gulf: The policy challenge calls on policymakers in the Gulf region to do more to address the growing challenge of diabetes.

The report, developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, highlights the sharp rise in prevalence of diabetes and the associated rising economic costs and calls for a coherent region-wide approach to tackle the issue.

Data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) shows that prevalence of the disease has reached 23.9 per cent of the adult population in Saudi Arabia, 23.1 per cent in Kuwait and 19.8 per cent Qatar, over twice the global average of 8.3 per cent.

The report notes that $16.8 billion was spent on diabetes care in 2014, according to estimates from the IDF, with this figure set to rise to $24.7 billion by 2035. Additionally, as people develop diabetes at a younger age, a growing number of patients are living with the disease for longer, significantly increasing the per-capita costs of patient care.

With healthcare investment in the Gulf region ranging from 2.2 per cent to 4.9 per cent of GDP in 2012, far below the OECD average of 8.9 per cent of GDP, there is significant scope to increase healthcare investment levels in this region. However, it is important to note that it is not just about the amount of money spent on dealing with diabetes, but how this money is invested.

The report highlights that while several initiatives are being implemented in the Gulf region, including those targeting specific aspects of the disease such as screening, the response is not consistent throughout the region.

“Our research has revealed a number of opportunities to help combat the rise of diabetes in Gulf region,” said Martin Koehring, report editor, EIU. “From strengthening primary healthcare, to introducing tough new legislation and engaging community leaders, policymakers must adopt regional practices to tackle the growing burden of diabetes in the Gulf.”

“The rise of diabetes in the Gulf region is a significant public health concern and represents a substantial risk to further development,” said Jan Van der Goten, managing director, Janssen GCC.

“Janssen is committed to investing in local and regional initiatives to help tackle the burden of diabetes in the region. We hope this report will offer valuable insights into the burden of the disease and encourage change in how policymakers combat the disease.” – TradeArabia News Service