COVID-19 in People with Diabetes: Epidemiological Perspectives and Public Health Actions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

Abstract

It is evident that COVID-19 and diabetes have a significant influence on population health across the world, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. COVID-19 patients with diabetes have been observed to be more prone to developing severe infections and higher risk of mortality compared to non-diabetics. As diabetes is one of the major health issues, widely prevalent in the MENA countries, the current review focused on understanding the epidemiology of COVID-19 in people with diabetes, and the interventions implemented by the governments to minimize the impact of it. Considering the importance and need, the MENA countries have enforced several prevention and control measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Though there has been a considerable amount of research on COVID-19, only a few countries from the MENA region focused on the epidemiology of COVID-19 among patients with diabetes and its effects. Hence, we emphasize the need for intensive research which is an urgent need to have a clear understanding of COVID-19 and its association with diabetes to develop and implement evidence- based programs and policies in the MENA region.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; clinical characteristics; coronavirus; diabetes mellitus; epidemiology; gulf cooperation council and Middle East and North Africa.; mortality; pandemic; public health actions; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes.