Marked hyperglycemia and PTSD in diabetic patients living in high conflict zones: a cross-sectional study

Battlefield-like conflicts at Ein el Helwe have led to detrimental effects on the physical and psychological aspects of the people living in that region. PTSD and marked hyperglycaemia are expected to be the consequences of these events. This study aimed to explore the association of Ein el Helwe conflicts with marked hyperglycaemia while also determining the rates of PTSD among the study participants. A cross-sectional approach was adopted. PTSD was evaluated using the Arabic version of the validated PTSD scale. Marked hyperglycemia was reported by the patients as the most recent reading of their fasting blood sugar level. A total of 220 participants, mostly females were included with a mean age of 53.22 ± 13.98 years. Almost 15% reported marked hyperglycemia. The rate of PTSD among the study participants was 71.8% with a mean score of 45.84 ± 9.94. Multivariate analysis confirmed the impact of educational level, living area and avoidance/numbness symptoms on glycemic control. The study highlighted the association between conflicts and wars with marked hyperglycaemia and PTSD. Sociodemographic, lifestyle factors and cultural aspects contributed to the findings. Glycemia levels should be monitored for more reliable findings in future studies.