Testing a prediabetes screening approach for a Latin American population in Vancouver, Canada

Abstract

Aim. To determine whether the CANRISK Diabetes Risk Assessment tool can be a useful component of a screening programme to identify risk for developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) in a Latin American immigrant population in a Canadian urban health service region., Background. Diabetes mellitus type 2 prevalence is rapidly increasing and has been identified as a population health priority. Immigrants from Latin American countries are among the higher risk ethnic groups within the diverse Canadian urban population., Method. Within a larger multi-site project to validate the Public Health Agency of Canada's CANRISK Questionnaire, we studied a convenience sample of 44 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin Americans to assess its utility as a potential component of a prediabetes risk screening approach with this population. Using a cross-sectional exploratory design, we compared CANRISK questionnaire results with values derived from controlled blood glucose testing. Data were collected from 2009-2010., Results. CANRISK assessment was readily accepted within this population when administered in study participants' native language. Laboratory testing detected abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values in 4[middle dot]7% of this population, 4[middle dot]5% with abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 4[middle dot]5% and abnormal haemoglobin A1c values in 9[middle dot]1%. In contrast, the CANRISK tool identified 11[middle dot]4% of the sample to be at high risk, 9[middle dot]1 at moderate risk and 43[middle dot]2% at slightly elevated risk for developing DM., Conclusion. CANRISK identified candidates who might benefit from risk reduction interventions in whom biological indices typically signalling the need for attention were not yet apparent. It is easily administered with this higher risk population, and may be useful to identify a significantly wider spectrum of prediabetes risk than can be detected clinically., Relevance to clinical practice. Nurses may consider using the CANRISK questionnaire to detect DM risk within this population as an adjunct to prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence and prevalence of this disease., Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.