RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Screening for Diabetes: Sensitivity and Positive Predictive Value of Risk Factor Total
JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
JO Clin Lab Sci
FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science
SP 221
OP 225
DO 10.29074/ascls.18.4.221
VO 18
IS 4
A1 Behan, Kristina Jackson
YR 2005
UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/18/4/221.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: Screening for diabetes is recommended for individuals ≥45 years of age, or earlier if they manifest ≥ one specific risk factors. This study examined the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of risk factor total for identifying individuals with diabetes and prediabetes.DESIGN: Subjects were interviewed to assess the presence of risk factors. Fasting plasma glucose levels were obtained.SETTING: The study occurred at a health fair in Greens-burg, PA.PATIENTS: Six hundred sixty-one Caucasians between the ages of 19 and 100.RESULTS: Using the criterion of screening individuals with ≥ one risk factors detected 100% of both diabetics and prediabetics. This dropped to 91.2% when screening individuals with > two factors. The PPV of the risk factor total was poor (80% of individuals with a total of four factors were not diabetic). The ability of the risk factor total to predict individuals with impaired glucose metabolism (prediabetics + diabetics) was considerably better, and increased almost linearly with the risk factor total. Of the subjects with normal glucose values, the mean glucose increased as the risk factor total increased.CONCLUSION: While the sensitivity of using ≥ one risk factor as an algorithm to screen is 100% for identifying diabetics, the PPV of risk factor analysis for identifying diabetics is poor. The same algorithm works well to identify at-risk individuals, presumably allowing early intervention and education.ABBREVIATIONS: FPG = fasting plasma glucose; PPV = positive predictive value.