DOH Clinical Medicine & Pharmacology — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 55-year-old Emirati male presents with central obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia, and fasting blood glucose of 6.2 mmol/L. Which condition best describes his presentation?
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Metabolic syndrome (Correct answer)
- Addison's disease
- Cushing's syndrome
Correct answer: Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when central obesity co-exists with at least two of: raised triglycerides, low HDL, hypertension, or raised fasting glucose — this patient meets criteria.
Question 2: Which antidiabetic drug class is associated with cardiovascular and renal protective benefits frequently recommended in UAE clinical guidelines for type 2 diabetes?
- Sulfonylureas
- SGLT-2 inhibitors (Correct answer)
- Meglitinides
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Correct answer: SGLT-2 inhibitors
SGLT-2 inhibitors (e.g., empagliflozin, dapagliflozin) have demonstrated significant cardiovascular and renoprotective outcomes, making them preferred agents in UAE/international guidelines for T2DM with co-morbidities.
Question 3: A patient is prescribed metformin 500 mg BD. Which condition is an absolute contraindication to its use?
- Obesity
- Severe renal impairment (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²) (Correct answer)
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidaemia
Correct answer: Severe renal impairment (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²)
Metformin is absolutely contraindicated when eGFR falls below 30 mL/min/1.73m² due to the risk of lactic acidosis from drug accumulation.
Question 4: Which vaccine is part of the UAE National Immunisation Schedule given at birth to protect against a disease with high prevalence historically in the region?
- Yellow fever vaccine
- BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine (Correct answer)
- Typhoid vaccine
- Rabies vaccine
Correct answer: BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine
BCG vaccine is given at birth in the UAE National Immunisation Schedule to provide protection against severe forms of tuberculosis, which remains a public health consideration in the region.
Question 5: What is the first-line antihypertensive drug class preferred for a 45-year-old diabetic patient with proteinuria according to standard clinical guidelines applied in Abu Dhabi?
- Beta-blockers
- ACE inhibitors or ARBs (Correct answer)
- Thiazide diuretics
- Calcium channel blockers
Correct answer: ACE inhibitors or ARBs
ACE inhibitors or ARBs are first-line for hypertensive diabetic patients with proteinuria due to their proven renoprotective effect beyond blood pressure control.
Question 6: A child in Abu Dhabi presents with fever, cough, and Koplik spots on the buccal mucosa. Which diagnosis is most likely?
- Rubella
- Measles (Correct answer)
- Scarlet fever
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
Correct answer: Measles
Koplik spots — small white lesions on the buccal mucosa — are pathognomonic for measles (rubeola), preceding the classic maculopapular rash.
DOH Clinical Medicine & Pharmacology
A 55-year-old Emirati male presents with central obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia, and fasting blood glucose of 6.2 mmol/L.
Which condition best describes his presentation?