Prevalence of Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Risk Indicators in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2,400 Biobank Participants
1
QATAR UNIVERSITY, Doha, Qatar
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Comprehensive population-level data on cardiometabolic and respiratory risk factors are essential for health policy planning in rapidly developing Middle Eastern nations. Despite Qatar’s substantial healthcare investments, systematically derived prevalence estimates using internationally standardized clinical thresholds remain limited. We aimed to characterize the burden and clustering of major health risk indicators in a large Qatari population sample using validated international criteria.
METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2,400 Qatar Biobank participants (1,200 male, 1,200 female; mean age 40.6 ± 13.4 years). Health indicators were classified using established international thresholds: obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²), central obesity (waist circumference ≥90 cm for males and ≥80 cm for females, IDF Middle East criteria), hypertension (systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg, ESC/ESH 2018), low grip strength (males <27 kg, females <16 kg, EWGSOP2), and abnormal lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second z-score <−1.645, GLI-2012). Self-reported chronic conditions included diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.
RESULTS:
Overall obesity prevalence was 39.5%, while central obesity affected 60.6% of participants based on waist circumference and 31.3% based on waist–hip ratio. Measured hypertension prevalence was 7.5%, compared with 14.0% self-reported hypertension. Self-reported diabetes affected 15.8% of participants, and high cholesterol was reported by 28.3%. Pulmonary function abnormalities were common: 30.1% had FEV₁ below the lower limit of normal, while 5.3% met criteria for airflow obstruction. Cardiometabolic risk factor clustering was observed, with 16.3% of participants exhibiting three or more concurrent risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS:
This Qatari population demonstrates a high burden of obesity and central adiposity alongside substantial pulmonary function abnormalities. Discrepancies between measured and self-reported hypertension highlight the importance of combining objective assessments with self-reported data. These findings support targeted population health strategies addressing obesity prevention, cardiometabolic risk reduction, and respiratory health screening in Qatar.
Comprehensive population-level data on cardiometabolic and respiratory risk factors are essential for health policy planning in rapidly developing Middle Eastern nations. Despite Qatar’s substantial healthcare investments, systematically derived prevalence estimates using internationally standardized clinical thresholds remain limited. We aimed to characterize the burden and clustering of major health risk indicators in a large Qatari population sample using validated international criteria.
METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2,400 Qatar Biobank participants (1,200 male, 1,200 female; mean age 40.6 ± 13.4 years). Health indicators were classified using established international thresholds: obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²), central obesity (waist circumference ≥90 cm for males and ≥80 cm for females, IDF Middle East criteria), hypertension (systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg, ESC/ESH 2018), low grip strength (males <27 kg, females <16 kg, EWGSOP2), and abnormal lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second z-score <−1.645, GLI-2012). Self-reported chronic conditions included diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.
RESULTS:
Overall obesity prevalence was 39.5%, while central obesity affected 60.6% of participants based on waist circumference and 31.3% based on waist–hip ratio. Measured hypertension prevalence was 7.5%, compared with 14.0% self-reported hypertension. Self-reported diabetes affected 15.8% of participants, and high cholesterol was reported by 28.3%. Pulmonary function abnormalities were common: 30.1% had FEV₁ below the lower limit of normal, while 5.3% met criteria for airflow obstruction. Cardiometabolic risk factor clustering was observed, with 16.3% of participants exhibiting three or more concurrent risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS:
This Qatari population demonstrates a high burden of obesity and central adiposity alongside substantial pulmonary function abnormalities. Discrepancies between measured and self-reported hypertension highlight the importance of combining objective assessments with self-reported data. These findings support targeted population health strategies addressing obesity prevention, cardiometabolic risk reduction, and respiratory health screening in Qatar.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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