TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationship between obesity, diabetes, hypertension and vitamin D deficiency among Saudi Arabians aged 15 and over: results from the Saudi health interview survey
AU - Al-Sumaih, Ibrahim
AU - Johnston, Brian
AU - Donnelly, Michael
AU - O'Neill, Ciaran
PY - 2020/6/5
Y1 - 2020/6/5
N2 - Background: Obesity and diabetes are related conditions, the prevalence of which has increased globally in recent
years. These conditions have been linked to hypertension and vitamin D deficiency though the nature of the
relationship remains unclear and is likely to vary between identifiable groups and specific contexts. The aim of this
paper is to examine the relationships between obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and vitamin D, among Saudis
citizens aged 15 and over.
Methods: Self-reported and measured data were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey and analysed
using a series of seemingly unrelated bivariate probit regression (SURBVP) analyses. Sensitivity analyses were
undertaken in which the selection and specification of covariates and outcomes were varied.
Results: In the main analysis data on 957 women and 1127 men were analysed. Differences were evident between
men and women in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, central obesity, hypertension and vitamin D
deficiency. While men were more likely to experience diabetes and hypertension, women were more likely to
experience obesity, central obesity and vitamin D deficiency. In multivariable analyses obesity and age were found
to significantly predict hypertension risk in women; central obesity to predict diabetes risk in men and women, as
well as hypertension risk in men. Vitamin D was not found to predict diabetes risk nor hypertension risk in either
sex. Milk consumption and sun exposure were found to predict vitamin D deficiency in women but not men. While
there was evidence of unobserved heterogeneity in models predicting diabetes and hypertension, there was no
evidence of unobserved heterogeneity between these and those predicting vitamin D deficiency. Results did not
materially change over a range of sensitivity analyses.
AB - Background: Obesity and diabetes are related conditions, the prevalence of which has increased globally in recent
years. These conditions have been linked to hypertension and vitamin D deficiency though the nature of the
relationship remains unclear and is likely to vary between identifiable groups and specific contexts. The aim of this
paper is to examine the relationships between obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and vitamin D, among Saudis
citizens aged 15 and over.
Methods: Self-reported and measured data were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey and analysed
using a series of seemingly unrelated bivariate probit regression (SURBVP) analyses. Sensitivity analyses were
undertaken in which the selection and specification of covariates and outcomes were varied.
Results: In the main analysis data on 957 women and 1127 men were analysed. Differences were evident between
men and women in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, central obesity, hypertension and vitamin D
deficiency. While men were more likely to experience diabetes and hypertension, women were more likely to
experience obesity, central obesity and vitamin D deficiency. In multivariable analyses obesity and age were found
to significantly predict hypertension risk in women; central obesity to predict diabetes risk in men and women, as
well as hypertension risk in men. Vitamin D was not found to predict diabetes risk nor hypertension risk in either
sex. Milk consumption and sun exposure were found to predict vitamin D deficiency in women but not men. While
there was evidence of unobserved heterogeneity in models predicting diabetes and hypertension, there was no
evidence of unobserved heterogeneity between these and those predicting vitamin D deficiency. Results did not
materially change over a range of sensitivity analyses.
U2 - 10.1186/s12902-020-00562-z
DO - 10.1186/s12902-020-00562-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 32503594
VL - 20
JO - BMC endocrine disorders
JF - BMC endocrine disorders
SN - 1472-6823
M1 - 81
ER -