Sultan Qaboos University Med J, February 2015, Vol. 15, Iss. 1, pp. e116–119, Epub. 21 Jan 15 Submitted 6 Jun 14 Revisions Req. 13 Jul & 18 Aug 14; Revisions Recd. 4 Aug & 21 Aug 14 Accepted 27 Aug 14 3 Department of Family & Community Medicine, 1 School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain; 2 Department of Haematology, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, UK *Corresponding Author e-mail: a.abdulnabi@live.com بة بداء السكري؟صا من ا امنجلرض فقر الدم م هل حم ة دراسة مقطع يتفوردفيد و، دية القر�ضي فتحي،ي عبدالنبي حمد عل : Objectives: he co-existence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and sickle cell disease (SCD) is rare. his study aimed to explore whether SCD patients have the same DM prevalence as the general population in a country with a high prevalence of DM. Methods: his cross-sectional study included all SCD adult patients admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, between 2003 and 2010 (n = 2,204). A random sample (n = 520) was taken to establish the prevalence of DM. Laboratory records were examined to determine the presence of DM. Results: here were 376 SCD patients with complete records; of these, 24 (6.4%) had DM. he age- and sex-standardised prevalence of DM was 8.3%. Conclusion: While the prevalence of DM in SCD patients in Bahrain was high, it was lower than expected in this population. SCD may have a protective efect towards DM development. However, the impact of these two conditions on vascular diseases suggest a need for screening and aggressive treatment in this population. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Sickle Cell Disease; Prevalence; Epidemiology; Comorbidity; Vascular Diseases; Bahrain. ر داءنت�ضاضة تبحث ي ن�ضبة اذه الدرا�ري�س معا. ه ي نف�س ام وداء ال�ضكري امنجلير�س فقر الدمنادر ح�ضول م من ال: الهدف: املخ�ص ذه الدرا�ضة امقطعيةملت ه ا�ضت: الطريقةن�ضبة عالية.س ال�ضكري ب فيه مر� بلد ينت�ر ي امنجليبن بفقر الدمم�ضا ي امر�ضى ا ال�ضكري 2,204( 2010 اإى �ضنة2003 �ضنة البحرين، من ية الطبي�ضلمانيضت�ضفى الذين اأدخلوا اإى م�لغن اللبا امنجلي ار�ضى فقر الدمى كل م عل س ال�ضكريئج امخترية لفح�لنتا. مت درا�ضة ا بينهمس ال�ضكري مر�نت�ضاردرا�ضة معدل ا مري�ضا ل520 ة ع�ضوائية من. م اأخذ عين) مري�ضا نهم ميضا مر24 أنة ي الدرا�ضة. وجدطبية كاملتهم الي وكانت �ضجل امنجل بفقر الدم مري�ضا376 دراج إ م:لنتائج اجود امر�س. لتحديد و .8.3%اجن�س هوى العمر ونتائج بناء علعد �ضبط ال امنجلي بر�ضى فقر الدم ي م داء ال�ضكرينت�ضارن معدل اري. كاضابون بال�ضك م�6.4% اأقلأنها اّ إالية، اي ن�ضبة عا إبحرين و�ضل ي ال امنجليبن بفقر الدمم�ضا ي امر�ضى ا داء ال�ضكرينت�ضار معدل ا ّ اأن ي حن:خا�صة ا بة بداء ال�ضكري. ولكنإ�ضااجلي نحو ا امنر�س فقر الدمد تاأثر وقائي مجوحتمالية وة. هذا ي�ضر اإى ال�ضكانيذه الفئة ان امتوقع ي ه م ذهلوقائي لهعلج ارمج والية الفح�س اموية ي�ضر اإى اأهمأوعية الدماأمرا�س اإ�ضابة باا�ضلبي على ا امر�ضن ال تاأثر هذين ّ مع ذلك، فاإن ن امر�ضى.ذه الفئة معوامل ي ه ال البحرين.؛ة الدمويةاأوعي اأمرا�س ا؛ضة ام�ضركة امرا�؛ ات َ يِ بائ َ الو؛ �ضارِ تْ ان ا مدى؛ امنجلير�س فقر الدم م ؛ ّ يِ رَ ك ُ ال�ض:كلماتح ال مفتا Does Sickle Cell Disease Protect Against Diabetes Mellitus? Cross-sectional study *Ali A. Mohamed, 1 Fathia Al-Qurashi, 2 David L. Whitford 3 S ickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited haemoglobinopathies. 1 he leading cause of death among patients with SCD has changed from infections to chronic cardiopulmonary complications. 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, accounting for an increased risk of myocardial infarctions or strokes. 3 In addition, DM patients are predisposed to complications that are also associated with SCD, including infections, renal failure and retinopathy. Fortunately, research has indicated that the co-existence of type 1 and type 2 DM with SCD is rare; several studies have found no cases of DM at all among SCD patients. 4,5 A large multi-centre study, carried out in 31 centres in the USA, Canada and the UK, revealed that only 2% of blood-transfused SCD patients also had DM. 6 Bahrain has a population of approximately 1.2 million, although around 50% are expatriates. 7 he country has a high prevalence of both DM and SCD, ranking ifth in the world for DM at 15.8%. 8 he prevalence of SCD in Bahrain was 2.1% in 1987, 9 but this prevalence had decreased by 1.3% in 2008. 10 Both diseases present considerable challenges to the national healthcare system. 11,12 he co-existence of these two conditions in a population where both are highly prevalent has not been previously studied. herefore, this preliminary study aimed to explore whether patients with SCD have the same prevalence of DM as the general population in Bahrain. BRIEF COMMUNICATION