https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0230-0149
Abstract
Background
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has the second highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Middle East. There is a paucity of research on the experiences and treatment preferences of patients with T2DM in KSA. This study explored Saudi patients’ health-related quality of life, eating habits, experiences during Ramadan, and preference between two glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) treatment devices.
Methods
A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in three cities in KSA. Participants completed sociodemographic and clinical forms, EQ-5D-5L, Impact of Weight on Self-Perceptions, and a diabetes treatment survey. Participants also viewed instructional videos on GLP-1 RA injection devices and indicated their device preference.
Results
Of the 310 participants, 53% were male. The mean age was 43 years (range: 30.0–75.0), duration since diabetes diagnosis was 6.3 years (range: 0.2–27.1), the most commonly reported last HbA1c level was between ≥7.1% and 8% (45%). The mean EQ-5D-5L index score was 0.90, with some participants reporting problems with pain/discomfort (34.5%) and usual activities (33.2%). Patients reported a low-to-moderate impact of weight on self-perception. In preparation for Ramadan, participants sought physician advice on diabetes management (37%) and/or increased checks of their blood glucose (37%). After watching the videos, 89% (n=277) of participants indicated a device preference, with significantly more preferring the dulaglutide device (n=186, 67%) over the semaglutide device (n=91, 33%) (p<0.0001).
Conclusion
This study indicates that T2DM has a significant social, emotional, and behavioral impact on the lives of patients in KSA.
Abbreviations
EASD, European Association for the Study of Diabetes; GLP-1 RA, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist; HRQoL, health-related quality of life; IDF, International Diabetes Federation; IW-SP, Impact of Weight on Self-Perceptions; KSA, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; T2DM, Type 2 diabetes mellitus; VAS, visual analogue scale.
Data Sharing Statement
Participants did not provide consent to share individual data, data are kept on file by the investigators.
Ethics Approval and Informed Consent
Participants were required to provide written informed consent before completing study procedures, and all procedures and materials were approved by an independent institutional review board (Ethical & Independent Review Services; Study Number: 18,205-01A approval date: 01/14/19). This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the patients and staff who participated in this study.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, and all collaborated on the study design, analysis plan, interpretation of data, and outline of the manuscript. The co-authors HG, HS, LM, JJ, and SA drafted the manuscript text, and the co-authors KB, AA, AE, and AS critically reviewed the article. All authors have agreed on the submission to this journal and have reviewed and agreed on all versions of the article. All authors agree to take responsibility and be accountable for the contents of the article.
Disclosure
Heather L. Gelhorn, Louis S. Matza, Jessica B. Jordan, Savita B. Anand, and Huda Shalhoub are employees of Evidera, a company that received funding from Eli Lilly for time spent conducting this research. Alena A. Strizek, Kristina S. Boye, and Ali Alhammad are employees of and own stock in Eli Lilly and Company. Dr. Aishah A. Ekhzaimy is not an employee of Eli Lilly and Company and has no conflict of interest to disclose. The authors report no other potential conflicts of interest for this work.