WHAT IS THE

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY?

Why is this study important?

The UAE Healthy Future study is the first prospective study to provide scientific evidence of the causes of chronic diseases in the United Arab Emirates. The study also plays an important role in the development of prevention methods for the benefit of the UAE and Arab societies.

 

Research

Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Medical Research in the United Arab Emirates

Results from the Abu Dhabi cohort study (ADCS) focus group discussions

How do people in the UAE perceive medical research?

What motivates people in the UAE to participate in research, particularly longitudinal studies where follow up is a key feature?

In 2015, a qualitative study utilizing focus group discussions and involving participants from the UAE community who resemble the target population was conducted. Participants join studies for varied, complex reasons, notably altruism and personal relevance. Based on these insights, we propose specific actions to enhance participant recruitment, retention and satisfaction in the UAE Healthy Future Study. We identified a number of opportunities to improve participants’ research experience and offer potential interventions for consideration/ Research Awareness.

Researchers

El Obaid, Yusra, Aisha Al Hamiz, Abdishakur Abdulle, Richard B. Hayes, Scott Sherman, and Raghib Ali

The AGE-RAGE axis in an Arab population

The United Arab Emirates Healthy Future (UAEHF) Pilot Study

Obesity, diabetes and heart disease result in the death of millions every year as reported by the WHO. Most of these deaths occur in the low- middle income countries. The UAE has rapidly evolved from semi- nomadic society to a flourishing high income society, which introduced a new lifestyle (high energy food consumption and low physical activity). These rapid changes resulted in the increase of the rates of obesity and diabetes among the population.

This is what motivated researchers to investigate about the metabolic mechanisms and biomarkers such as AGE (Advanced glycation endproducts) and RAGE (receptor for AGE). AGE -RAGE is highly related to obesity and are mostly expressed in the adipose tissues. Previous studies showed that RAGE expression increases in adipose tissue and in diabetic status.

In the UAE Healthy future study, we aim to understand the causes of these common metabolic diseases in a prospective manner and identify predictive biomarkers. They found that lower levels of esRAGE were associated with obesity and risk of metabolic syndrome. Moreover, no significant association between CML- AGE and BMI, WC/HC or diabetes status were observed.

Researchers

Inman, C.K., Aljunaibi, A., Koh, H., Abdulle, A., Ali, R., Alnaeemi, A., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Al Bastaki, M., Al-Houqani, M. and Al-Maskari, F

The UAE Healthy Future Study

A Pilot For a Prospective Cohort Study of 20,000 United Arab Emirates Nationals

The UAE is faced with a rapidly increasing burden of non- communicable diseases including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The UAE healthy future study (UAEHFS) is a prospective cohort study designed to identify associations between risk factors and disease outcomes amongst Emiratis. The study will enroll 20000 UAE nationals, aged ≥18 years.

Environmental and genetic risk factors will be characterized and participants will be followed for future disease events. As this was the first time a prospective cohort study was being planned in the UAE, a pilot study was conducted in 2015 with primary aim of establishing study feasibility.

Overall, 517 Emiratis (mean age: 32 ± 10.7) for males and (30 ± 9.9) for females participated and 90%, 82.2% and 94.4 % of them completed the questionnaire, physical measurements and provided samples, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension as well as the levels of cholesterol were higher amongst males. The results show the importance of the UAEHFS and its feasibility to recruit 20000 UAE nationals with a high completion rate

Researchers

Abdulle, A., Alnaeemi, A., Aljunaibi, A., Al Ali, A., Al Saedi, K., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Al Bastaki, M., Al-Houqani, M., Al Maskari, F. and Al Dhaheri, A.

 

Tobacco Use

Patterns of tobacco use in the United Arab Emirates Healthy Future (UAEHFS) pilot study

This study is the first in the region to gain an accurate measure of the current smoking status among the Emirati population in Abu Dhabi through self-reported responses with objective urinary cotinine measurements. Overall, 36% of men and 3% of women reported smoking tobacco based on survey responses compared to 42% of men and 9% of women based on biochemical confirmation results. 32% of smokers used two different tobacco products, whereas 6% of smokers used more than two tobacco products at the same time. Tobacco smoking rates in the UAE are higher than previously thought. Misclassification of smoking status was more common than expected, presumably due to cultural reasons.

Researchers

Al-Houqani, M., Leinberger-Jabari, A., Al Naeemi, A., Al Junaibi, A., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Kazim, M., Al Maskari, F., Al Dhaheri,

Incense Burning and Oral Microbiota

Incense Burning is Associated with Human Oral Microbiota Composition

Our findings reveal that incense burning is associated with changes in the diversity and composition of the oral microbiota and that even low exposures to incense use affects the relative abundance of several taxa, including Streptococci, the most abundant organisms of the oral microbiota. The observed changes may serve as a biomarker of exposure to incense use toxicants and may be related to oral health.  Since the practice of burning incense has been and is currently globally used in many different contexts (i.e. spiritual and religious ceremonies), determining and understanding its health effects is essential to establish and implement proper global policies for its use.

Researchers

Vallès, Y., Inman, C.K., Peters, B.A., Wareth, L.A., Abdulle, A., Alsafar, H., Al Anouti, F., Al Dhaheri, A., Galani, D., Haji, M. and Al Hamiz, A.

Publications

High prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors amongst young adults in the United Arab Emirates: the UAE Healthy Future Study

Mezhal, Fatima, Abderrahim Oulhaj, Abdishakur Abdulle, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla Alnaeemi, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari et al
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 23, no. 1 (2023): 137.

Association between pediatric asthma and adult polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a cross-sectional analysis of the UAE healthy future Study (UAEHFS)

Juber, Nirmin F., Abdishakur Abdulle, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla AlNaeemi, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri et al.
Frontiers in Endocrinology: Volume 14 – 2023 

Association Between Self-Reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Chronic Diseases Among Emiratis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the UAE Healthy Future Study

Juber, Nirmin F., Abdishakur Abdulle, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla AlNaeemi, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri et al.
International Journal of Women’s Health (2023): 289-298.

A method of correction for heaping error in the variables using validation data

Ahmad, Amar S., Munther Al-Hassan, Hamid Y. Hussain, Nirmin F. Juber, Fred N. Kiwanuka, Mohammed Hag-Ali, and Raghib Ali.
Statistical Papers (2023): 1-18.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on depression and anxiety symptoms: Findings from the United Arab Emirates Healthy Future (UAEHFS) cohort study

Al Blooshi, Manal, Tamadher Al Ameri, Maryam Al Marri, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Abdishakur Abdulle, Manal Taimah et al.
PloS one 17, no. 11 (2022): e0277684.

Metabolic Syndrome in Fasting and Non-Fasting Participants: The UAE Healthy Future Study

Mezhal, Fatima, Amar Ahmad, Abdishakur Abdulle, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Abderrahim Oulhaj, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla Alnaeemi et al.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 21 (2022): 13757.

Maternal Early-Life Risk Factors and Later Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS)

Juber, Nirmin F., Abdishakur Abdulle, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla AlNaeemi, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri et al.
International journal of environmental research and public health 19, no. 16 (2022): 10339.

Association between depression, happiness, and sleep duration: data from the UAE healthy future pilot study

Al Balushi, Mitha, Sara Al Balushi, Syed Javaid, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Fatma Al-Maskari, Mohammed Al-Houqani, Ayesha Al Dhaheri et al.
BMC psychology 10, no. 1 (2022): 1-9.

The Psychological Impact of Isolation on Hospitalised Patients with COVID-19 Infection in the UAE

Ahmed, Nahida Nayaz, Nirmin F. Juber, Reem AlKaabi, Fatema AlShehhi, Mohamed AlObeidli, Ahlam Salem, Alaa Galadari, Shamil Wanigaratne, and Amar Ahmad.
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health 12, no. 4 (2022): 516-523.

Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, body mass index and body fat composition among Emirati population: Results from the UAE healthy future study

AlAnouti, Fatme, Amar Sabri Ahmad, Laila Abdel Wareth, Ayesha Al Dhaheri, Abderrahim Oulhaj, Abdulla Al Junaibi, Abdullah Al Naeemi et al.  (2022).

COVID-19-Related Mortality across the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Based on Countries’ Available Data Up to November, 2020

Ahmad, Amar, Heba Mamdouh, Heba Al Naseri, Aisha Al Hamiz, Christian Heumann, and Raghib Ali.
Asian Journal of Medicine and Health 18, no. 11 (2021): 159-166.

The interrelationship and accumulation of cardiometabolic risk factors amongst young adults in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Healthy Future Study

Mezhal, Fatima, Abderrahim Oulhaj, Abdishakur Abdulle, Abdulla AlJunaibi, Abdulla Alnaeemi, Amar Ahmad, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari et al.
Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome 13, no. 1 (2021): 1-8.

The Socio-Demographic Characteristics Associated with Non-Communicable Diseases among the Adult Population of Dubai: Results from Dubai Household Survey 2019
Alnakhi, W. K., Mamdouh, H., Hussain, H. Y., Ibrahim, G. M., Ahmad, A. S., Ali, R., & Abdulle, A.(2021). Healthcare (Vol. 9, No. 9, p. 1139).

Smoking cessation for improving mental health.
Taylor, G. M., Lindson, N., Farley, A., Leinberger-Jabari, A., Sawyer, K., Te Water Naudé, R., Theodoulou, A., King, N., Burke, C., & Aveyard, P. (2021). The Cochrane database of systematic reviews3(3), CD013522.

Assessing motivators and barriers to active healthy living among a multicultural college student body: A qualitative inquiry
Leinberger-Jabari, A., Al-Ajlouni, Y., Ieriti, M., Cannie, S., Mladenovic, M., & Ali, R. (2021). Journal of American College Health, 1-5.

Perceptions and Attitudes towards Medical Research in the United Arab Emirates: Results from the Abu Dhabi Cohort Study (ADCS) Focus Group Discussions
El Obaid, Yusra, Aisha Al Hamiz, Abdishakur Abdulle, Richard B. Hayes, Scott Sherman, and Raghib Ali
PLoS One 11, no. 3 (2016): e0149609

The AGE-RAGE axis in an Arab population: The United Arab Emirates Healthy Futures (UAEHFS) Pilot Study.
Inman, C.K., Aljunaibi, A., Koh, H., Abdulle, A., Ali, R., Alnaeemi, A., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Al Bastaki, M., Al-Houqani, M. and Al-Maskari, F
 Journal of clinical & translational endocrinology10, pp.1-8

The UAE healthy future study: a pilot for a prospective cohort study of 20,000 United Arab Emirates nationals
Abdulle, A., Alnaeemi, A., Aljunaibi, A., Al Ali, A., Al Saedi, K., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Al Bastaki, M., Al-Houqani, M., Al Maskari, F. and Al Dhaheri, A.
BMC Public Health18(1), p.101

Patterns of tobacco use in the United Arab Emirates healthy future (UAEHFS) pilot study.
Al-Houqani, M., Leinberger-Jabari, A., Al Naeemi, A., Al Junaibi, A., Al Zaabi, E., Oumeziane, N., Kazim, M., Al Maskari, F., Al Dhaheri, A., Wareth, L.A. and Al Mahmeed, W.

PloS one13(5)

Incense Burning is Associated with Human Oral Microbiota Composition
Vallès, Y., Inman, C.K., Peters, B.A., Wareth, L.A., Abdulle, A., Alsafar, H., Al Anouti, F., Al Dhaheri, A., Galani, D., Haji, M. and Al Hamiz, A.
Scientific reports9(1), pp.1-10

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