Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus among patients with β-thalassemia major in the United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT Background: The risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) development is a significant concern for patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM), primarily because of iron overload from frequent blood transfusions and chelation therapy. Research indicates that DM prevalence among β-TM patients is higher than in the general population and is estimated to be 10.5% in the United Arab Emirates. This study aimed to update the data on DM prevalence and clinical correlations in this population. In addition, it evaluates the effectiveness of fructosamine as a predictive marker for DM in patients with β-TM. Methods: A total of 252 patients with β-TM were recruited in a cross-sectional study. All clinical and laboratory variables of the patients were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software package. Results: Based on the medical records, 38 patients (15.1%) were found to have DM; most were over the age of 25 years. Patients with DM showed elevated random glucose and fructosamine levels compared to non-DM patients. The serum ferritin levels remained consistent. Fructosamine positively correlated with random point-of-care testing (POCT) glucose levels. Similarly, ferritin was correlated with random glucose and POCT glucose but inversely correlated with Vitamin D. Magnetic resonance imaging T2 imaging revealed moderate-to-severe pancreatic iron overload in 20 patients. Fructosamine emerged as a significant predictor of diabetes in patients with β-TM, exhibiting high accuracy. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of DM among patients with β-TM in the United Arab Emirates, surpassing previous estimates. These findings emphasize the critical need for regular screening and proactive healthcare interventions to improve patient outcomes and enhance overall quality of life.