Prevalence and Co-prevalence of Comorbidities among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the MENA Region: A Systematic Review

Aim The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus is affected by the presence of comorbidities. This meta-analysis aimed to determine how likely it is for individuals with type 2 diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to be living with additional chronic health conditions. Methods We searched for studies published from January 2010 to December 2020 in the PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE (R), Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies of adults with type 2 diabetes in the MENA region were included. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis of single proportions to calculate each comorbidity's overall prevalence/co-prevalence. Results Statistically significant co-prevalence was detected at p < 0.01 for angina (pooled proportion: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.49), cerebrovascular accident (pooled proportion: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.26), coronary artery disease (pooled proportion: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.35), coronary heart disease (pooled proportion: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.12), peripheral vascular disease (pooled proportion: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.26), hypertension (pooled proportion: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.69), renal impairment (pooled proportion: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.29), in addition to hyperlipidemia and overweight/obesity. Conclusion There is evidence of co-prevalence of several comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of enhancing communication among healthcare professionals to develop the optimal management plan for each patient.