The development of gastroparesis-related symptoms in T1DM patients has major implications in the clinical course of the disease and physicians should be aware of the magnitude of the problem and its associated risks.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and identify predictors of gastroparesis in Saudi T1DM patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study at King Abdulaziz Medical City Diabetes center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All T1DM patients attending the endocrinology and diabetes clinics through Jan-Jun 2023 were approached. The Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptoms Index (GCSI) was utilized to diagnose gastroparesis.

Results: A total 113 T1DM patients were included. Age 12 - 54 (28.3 ±8.4) years. 63.7% were females, 26.5% overweight and 25.7% obese. Duration of diabetes 16.6 ±8 years, HbA1c% 8 ±1.5. Microvascular complications present in 24 (21.2%), 21.2% and 18.6% received statins and antihypertensives, and 12 (10.6%) were on metformin. Gastroparesis was present is 22 (19.5%). The most frequent reported symptoms were stomach fullness and feeling excessively full after meals (60.2%), followed by bloating (52.2%) and belly visibly larger (50.3%), whereas the lowest reported was vomiting (15.9%). Very severe form was reported in 9.7%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that females were at higher significant risk for developing gastroparesis compared to males (OR=4.36, 95% CI 1.15-16.56), p=0.031. Other studied factors (age, marital status, BMI, other chronic diseases, duration of diabetes, and microvascular complications) were not significantly associated with gastroparesis. HbA1c% was significantly higher in patients with gastroparesis compared to those without gastroparesis (8.9 ±1.9 versus 7.8 ±1.3), p=0.001. For every increase by one unit, the risk of developing gastroparesis increased by 59% (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.16-2.19), p=0.004.

Conclusion: Gastroparesis symptoms are highly prevalent among Saudi T1DM patients and corollate with poor glycemic control.

Disclosure

R. Alamoudi: None. E.B. Allugmani: None. N.M. Alsudairy: None. A.A. Alshamrani: None. M.F. Almutairi: None.

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