Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Testing for Prediabetes: Where Should Line Be Drawn?
JAMA Intern Med; ePub 2016 Oct 3; Shahraz, et al
A web-based risk test advocated by the CDC, ADA, and AMA categorized a large number of people as being at high risk for prediabetes, according to an analysis involving more than 10,000 individuals.
Investigators used data from the 2013-2014 NHANES, looking at people without type 2 diabetes. They calculated risk scores for prediabetes based on answers to 7 questions. Those who scored 5 or higher were considered to have prediabetes. Among the results:
- 97% answered all questions.
- 57% of people 40 or older were evaluated as being at high risk for prediabetes.
- 81% of those 60 or older were evaluated as being such.
The authors noted that people identified as having prediabetes require confirmation via blood glucose testing. When the results are extrapolated to the broader population, researchers conclude that such testing may be unnecessarily taxing the health care system, limiting access to care for those who may need it most.
Shahraz S, Pittas A, Kent D. Prediabetes risk in adult Americans according to a risk test. [Published online ahead of print October 3, 2016]. JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5919.