Outcomes and Effectiveness Research
Qatar Diabetes Project
The Qatar diabetes project is an in-depth study of the impact of diabetes on healthcare delivery in the state of Qatar. It evaluates risk factors, treatment patterns, and outcomes for people affected by the disease. The project also examines the impact of diabetes and other metabolic syndrome risk factors on cardiovascular disease and hospital care, as well as the economic effects of the disease on healthcare. The study includes Public Health faculty from Weill Cornell Medical College both in New York and Qatar, colleagues at the Hamad Medical Corporation (the major hospital in Qatar), and staff hired specifically for this project based in Qatar.
Because of the unique characteristics of the Qatari people, this project offers exciting possibilities for discovering useful information about diabetes. The country has changed enormously since the 1980s with the rapid development of the petrochemical industry. The lifestyle of the population has given way to a westernized, less physically active way of life. This unfortunately is associated with higher levels of obesity and an increase in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke, including diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Today, the prevalence of diabetes in Qatar is about twice that of the United States.
There may be complicated interactions between lifestyle factors and genetics to explain these disease patterns. It is hoped that by shedding light on the impact of diabetes, this project will pave the way for further studies of diabetes both in Qatar and in other populations with a high prevalence of the disease.
Qatar Research Team
Alvin I. Mushlin, M.D., Sc.M.,
Lisa M. Kern, M.D., M.P.H.
Madhu Mazumdar, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.
Ravinder Mamtani, M.B.B.S., M.D., M.Sc.
