Identifying people at risk for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes using the GP's electronic medical record.

BACKGROUND

Screening for type 2 diabetes is recommended in at-risk patients. The GP's electronic medical record (EMR) might be an attractive tool for identifying them.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of the GP's EMR in identifying patients at risk for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and the feasibility to use this information in usual care to initiate screening.

METHODS

In 11 Dutch general practices (25 GPs), we performed an EMR-derived risk assessment in all patients aged > or =45 and < or =75 years, without known diabetes, identifying those at risk according to the American Diabetes Association recommendations. Patients with an EMR-derived risk or risk after additional risk assessment during regular consultation were invited for capillary fasting plasma glucose (FPG) measurement.

RESULTS

Of 13 581 patients, 3858 (28%) had an EMR-based risk (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism disorders and/or obesity). Additional risk assessment in those without an EMR-based risk showed that in 51%, greater than one risk factor was present, mainly family history (51.2%) and obesity (59%). Ninety per cent returned for the FPG measurement. In both groups, we found patients with an FPG exceeding the cut point for diabetes (5.9% versus 4.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

With additional risk assessment during consultation, the GP's EMR was valuable in identifying patients at risk for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. It was feasible to use this information to initiate screening. At-risk patients were willing to take part in screening. Better registration of family history and obesity will improve the EMR as a tool for identifying at-risk patients in opportunistic screening in general practice.