Screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care using a stepwise protocol: the Diabscreen study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a stepwise protocol in opportunistic screening for type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
From 2000 to 2001, in 11 Dutch general practices (n=49,229) we invited at-risk patients during usual care for a capillary fasting plasma glucose (cFPG1) measurement. If >6.0 mmol/l, a second sample (cFPG2) was taken on another day, followed by a venous sample (vFPG) if cFPG2>6.0 mmol/l and cFPG1 or 2> or =7.0 mmol/l.


RESULTS
Of 3724 at-risk patients invited for a cFPG1, 3335 (90%) returned for the measurement. Ultimately, in 125 (4%) of them a vFPG was measured. In 101 out of 125 patients the vFPG was > or =7.0 mmol/l, giving a positive predictive value of our protocol of 81%.


CONCLUSIONS
A stepwise screening protocol including two subsequent capillary blood glucose measurements from a portable blood glucose meter is well applicable in screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care.
Klein Woolthuis
Erwin P
EP
Department of General Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.kleinwoolthuis@hag.umcn.nl
de Grauw
Wim J C
WJ
van Gerwen
Willem H E M
WH
van den Hoogen
Henk J M
HJ
van de Lisdonk
Eloy H
EH
Metsemakers
Job F M
JF
van Weel
Chris
C
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose