Evaluating a Diabetes Screening Program in Older than Age 30 Rural Populations, Hamedan District, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess validity (sensitivity and specificity) of a diabetes screening program in Hamedan, Iran district health centers. Eight hundred and thirty-five persons older than age 30 in Hamedan rural areas who had no diabetes risk factors were tested for fasting glucose, then the results of the national diabetes program in the area were added to these results. Finally, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) of type 2 diabetes were calculated. Nineteen persons (2.28%) had impaired fasting glucose (110–126 mg/dl), and three (0.36%) had diabetes (fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl) according to standard diagnostic criteria. Prevalence and incidence rates of diabetes were 2.97% and 7.53 per 1,000. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the diabetes screening test were 80.23%, 61.67%, 2.2%, and 99.65%, respectively. The study revealed that the primary screening program in district health centers had an acceptable sensitivity (80.23%) and a low specificity (61.67%).

Keywords:

• Diabetes mellitus
• mass screening
• predictive value of tests

Notes

The authors would like to dedicate this article to one of their beloved friends, Dr. Arash Pooya who supported this article and unfortunately passed away a few months ago. The authors also would like to thank laboratory experts and collaborators of Hamedan Provincial Health Center.