Screening for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes in general practice: a descriptive study of Maltese practices.

The aim of this research study was to ascertain the awareness of Maltese family doctors to the prevalence and significance of impaired glucose regulation and early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and whether practices were influenced by employment status, post-graduate training in diabetes or years since graduation. A specially constructed questionnaire was distributed by mail to all the 298 family doctors listed as Specialists in Family Medicine in the Maltese Medical Council register. Participants had to be practising family medicine in Malta. Results were analysed using SPSS 20.0 aiming for a significance criterion of 0.05 and a power of 80%. Valid replies were received from 154 GPs (51.7%). 93.2% claimed to offer their patients some form of screening. Screening levels reached up to 95.9% in the presence of specific risk factors (e.g., high previous HbA1c levels) but fell to between 46.2% and 58.7% in patients over 50, the physically inactive and those who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome. Screening using capillary glucose is widespread (70.8%) as opposed to the oral glucose tolerance test (23.4%). Results also show a high use of urinalysis in screening (53.2%) and a paradoxical lack of use of HbA1c in screening by young doctors and by those with recent extra training in diabetes. The need for a structured screening programme in Malta and its viability need to be evaluated by further studies. Educational support to GPs together with logistic support for GPs needs to be improved.

Grech M ，Chaney D 《-》

How are we diagnosing cardiometabolic risk in primary care settings?

Gohdes D ，Amundson H ，Oser CS ，Helgerson SD ，Harwell TS ... -  《-》

Primary care screening for individuals with impaired glucose metabolism with focus on impaired glucose tolerance.

To evaluate the utility of three short questions (the Skövde Form) combined with a random plasma glucose, and HbA1c as alternative tools for detection of individuals with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM), and particularly impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Three questions concerning BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2), heredity for type 2 diabetes, and known hypertension were asked in a random population of 573 individuals. All with two positive answers or one positive answer and a random plasma glucose > 7.2 mmol/l were invited for an oral glucose tolerance test and an HbA1c examination. FINDRISC was completed for comparison. The positive predictive value (PPV) for IGM, using the Skövde Form, was 31% while sensitivity and specificity were 59% and 73%, respectively. Corresponding values for IGT were 11%, 50% and 69%. Using HbA1c ≥ 42 mmol/mol, the PPV for IGM was 64% while sensitivity and specificity were 28% and 97%, respectively. The corresponding values for IGT were 15%, 16% and 94%. The Skövde Form combined with a random plasma glucose may be used as an alternative tool for detection of individuals with IGM and IGT in particular. HbA1c may be used to identify individuals with type 2 diabetes but fails to detect most individuals with prediabetes.

Hellgren MI ，Daka B ，Jansson PA ，Lindblad U ... -  《-》

Changes in Screening Practices for Prediabetes and Diabetes Since the Recommendation for Hemoglobin A(1c) Testing.

Screening involves the presumptive identification of asymptomatic individuals at increased risk for unrecognized disease. We examined changes in screening practices for prediabetes and diabetes since January 2010, when HbA1c was first recommended as an option for screening and diagnosis. We studied members without diabetes of an HMO ≥45 years of age continuously enrolled for ≥3 years and assigned to primary care clinicians affiliated with a large academic health system. We defined screening as the first oral glucose tolerance test, HbA1c, or glucose test performed between 2010 and 2014. Of 12,772 eligible patients, 9,941 (78%) were screened at least once over 3 years. HbA1c was the initial screening test 14% of the time and glucose 86% of the time. Of those screened with HbA1c, 63% had abnormal results defined as HbA1c ≥5.7% (≥39 mmol/mol). Of those tested with glucose, 30% had abnormal results defined as glucose ≥100 mg/dL, and 5% had abnormal results defined as glucose ≥126 mg/dL. Patients with abnormal HbA1c levels and those with glucose levels ≥126 mg/dL were equally likely to be scheduled for follow-up appointments (41% vs. 39%), but those with abnormal HbA1c levels were more likely to be diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes (36% vs. 26%). As we observed in 2004, rates of screening are high. HbA1c is still used less frequently than glucose for screening but is more likely to result in a clinical diagnosis. Evidence to support guidelines to define the role of random glucose screening, including definition of appropriate cut points and follow-up, is needed.

Evron JM ，Herman WH ，McEwen LN 《-》

Decreased Glycemic Difference Between Diabetes and Nondiabetes in the Elderly Leads to the Reduced Diagnostic Accuracy of Hemoglobin A1c for Diabetes Screening in an Aged Chinese Population.

Zou X ，Li Y ，Cai X ，Zhang S ，Zhang X ，Han X ，Zhou X ，Ji L ... -  《-》