Testing for genetic predisposition to diabetes and its contributing factors, like obesity, will be possible once a four-year nationwide health study is completed.
Entitled Saħħtek (health and well-being), the study follows research carried out 33 years ago and will give an estimate of the prevalence of diabetes, both diagnosed and not. It will also provide information about the proportion of the population that is obese and has high blood pressure while looking into physical activity, smoking habits, alcohol use and nutritional patterns.
Project coordinator Sarah Cuschieri, who came up with the idea of the study, said she was always interested in diabetes since it was increasing. “When I started medical school one of my friends was diagnosed with diabetes. That was when I decided I wanted to do something more,” Dr Cuschieri, 26, said.
Diabetes is characterised by high blood glucose levels. Malta has the second highest percentage of diabetics in the Mediterranean – surpassed only by Cyprus – with more than 30,000 adults known to be diabetic and another 8,000 adults believed to be undiagnosed diabetics.
Type 2 diabetes – linked with obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle – makes up 90 per cent of diabetes cases. Unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity and tobacco use are also the main contributing causes of heart disease and stroke; the leading cause of death.
This means that learning to understand the prevalence and genetic predisposition towards diabetes, and its contributing factors, is a giant step towards prevention.
Dr Cuschieri said the first phase of the Saħħtek project, set to start this month, would last about two years.
That was when I decided I wanted to do something more
A random representative sample of the people was drawn up. Letters will be sent out asking 4,000 participants to go to a selected health centre or health clinic for a full check-up. This will include free tests for blood pressure, blood sugar level and cholesterol. They will also be asked about their habits including food intake, tobacco and alcohol use, exercise patterns and tested for obesity. Finally, a blood sample will be taken for genetic testing.
The next stage of the research, also estimated to take two years, will involve genetic testing. This will allow researchers to draw links between diabetes, lifestyle habits and obesity. It will look for genetic markers for diabetes, hypertension and obesity, among other conditions.
Julian Mamo, chairman of the project’s steering committee, said that, for the first time, Malta would have a risk score for diabetes. This would have great beneficial repercussions in terms of prevention and policymaking. Results will be communicated to all medical practitioners.
The project – estimated to cost more than €300,000 – is supported by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation, the University of Malta’s Research and Innovation Development Trust and Atlas Insurance and is being carried out with the support of the Health Parliamentary Secretariat.
www.sahhtek.com