• Naim Abu-Freha, Osama Alamour, Sarah Weissmann, Simon Esbit, Bracha Cohen, Michal Gordon, Omar Abu-Freha, Sabri El-Saied, and Zaid Afawi.
• Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
• Isr Med Assoc J. 2024 Dec 1; 26 (11): 694700694-700.

BackgroundThe lifestyle of the Arab population in Israel has changed in the last few decades, and modernization and urbanization have impacted the prevalence of chronic diseases.ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of chronic diseases in the Arab population compared to the Jewish population in Israel.MethodsThis retrospective study included Arab and Jewish people insured by Israel's largest health maintenance organization. Demographic data and data regarding chronic diseases were collected. Crude prevalence and age group adjusted prevalence were calculated.ResultsIn total, 863,116 Arab and 3,674,863 Jewish people were included in the analysis. We found that 18.3% of the Arab population had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and 28.8% had obesity compared to 17.5% and 22.5% in the Jewish population, P < 0.001, respectively. The prevalence of chronic heart failure, chronic ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, hypertension, and myocardial infarction among Arabs was higher in all age groups compared to Jewish patients. Arab males had higher frequency rates of obesity and hemodialysis treatment compared to Jewish males. The proportion of women with diabetes mellitus, hemodialysis treatment, iron deficiency anemia, or obesity was greater among Arab females.ConclusionsSignificant differences were found in the prevalence of chronic diseases among Arab and Jewish patients in Israel. Culturally relevant interventions are crucial for disease prevention, early diagnosis, and management of chronic diseases among different ethnic groups.

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