Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus poses a significant public health challenge in Saudi Arabia, with rising prevalence and complications burden. Primary healthcare centers (PHCs) serve as frontline providers, yet data on diabetes outcomes in these settings remains limited.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate glycemic control status, complication patterns, and predictors of poor outcomes among diabetic patients attending PHCs in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 312 diabetic patients (T1DM=22; T2DM=290) across Saudi PHCs. Data on demographic characteristics, glycemic control (HbA1c <7% as controlled), and complications (dyslipidemia, retinopathy, neuropathy, etc.) were collected through medical records and clinical assessments. Logistic regression identified predictors of complications.

Results: The study found that only 30.4% of patients achieved adequate glycemic control, with no significant difference between those with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (27.3% vs. 30.7%, p=0.737). Dyslipidemia emerged as the most prevalent complication, affecting 42.3% of the overall cohort, and was significantly more common among T2DM patients compared to those with T1DM (45.2% vs. 4.5%, p=0.001). Retinopathy was observed in 13.4% of T2DM patients, while no cases were reported among those with T1DM (p=0.049). Furthermore, obesity (OR=4.74), hypertension (OR=5.21), and poor glycemic control (OR=4.35) were found to be strong predictors of diabetes-related complications, all with statistically significant associations (p=0.001).

Conclusion: The study reveals alarmingly poor glycemic control and high complication rates in Saudi PHCs, driven by modifiable risk factors. Urgent interventions targeting obesity, hypertension, and glucose management are needed to improve diabetes outcomes.

Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, complications, glycemic control, primary healthcare, Saudi Arabia