Baseline Characteristics of Newly Registered Diabetic Patients in Primary Care Settings in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the baseline demographic characteristics, clinical profile and cardiovascular risk factors of newly registered diabetic patients in Muscat Governorate, Oman, in 2022.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included newly registered diabetic patients attending all primary care centres in Muscat Governorate in 2022. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from the national diabetic registry and Al-Shifa health information system.

Results: A total of 1,309 patients were included and their data analysed, of which 51% were male and the mean age was 53.89 ± 12.47 years. Approximately 50% of the participants were obese and physically inactive and 14.7% were smokers. Uncontrolled glycosylated haemoglobin levels were reported in 60.6%, 53.8% were hypertensive and 62.1% had dyslipidaemia. Chronic kidney disease, ischaemic heart disease and stroke constituted 5.7%, 6.3% and 2%, respectively. High albumin-to-creatinine ratio was found in 46.9% of the participants and 18.7% had proteinuria. Multivariate analysis showed that female and older patients were less likely to have poor glycaemic control. The odds of poor glycaemic control among males were 1.439 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.126-1.838) compared to females. Uncontrolled blood pressure and high low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly associated with poor glycaemic control (odds ratio [OR]: 1.421, 95% CI: 1.105-1.828 and OR: 1.540, 95% CI: 1.196-1.984, respectively).

Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk factors were common in this study's sample, with a high prevalence of poor control and complications. This underscores the importance of diabetes screening programmes for high-risk populations and well-structured preventive programmes for newly registered diabetic patients. Prospective and interventional studies are highly recommended.