Community-level screening for type 2 diabetes risk in Mexicans living in Colorado

Detección a nivel comunitario de riesgo de diabetes tipo 2 en mexicanos que viven en Colorado

Autores/as

  • Ricardo Gonzalez-Fisher Metropolitan State University of Denver
  • Odalys Avila Servicios de La Raza
  • Jehimy Proano Servicios de La Raza (Denver, Colorado)
  • Alma Mireya Hernandez Metropolitan State University of Denver (Denver, Colorado, USA)
  • Alok Sarwal Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice (Denver, Colorado, USA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11565/arsmed.v46i2.1781

Palabras clave:

community screening, type 2 diabetes, FINDRISC

Resumen

Introduction: Many Mexican immigrants to the US are medically underserved and have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes; early identification of risk factors can prompt referrals to lifestyle changes and primary care in this population. We used a cross-sectional study design to assess diabetes risk using an existing community partnership, a public health professional, and a lay health promoter model to identify individuals at high risk for diabetes without imposing tests that are difficult to perform or sustain in a community setting. Materials and Methods: Between January 1st, 2018, and December 31st, 2019, a community-based approach for type 2 diabetes-risk screening was conducted by lay health workers using a standard protocol including an educational component, the FINDRISC questionnaire, and capillary plasma glucose criteria. Basic descriptive statistics were obtained for demographic, lifestyle, and diabetes risk factors. Results: Our team screened 783 adult individuals (444 females and 339 males) for type 2 diabetes risk. 29% of participants (35.6% of females and 20.6% of males) were at high risk of type 2 diabetes because they had FINDRISC scores of 14 or higher. We also identified other risk factors, 79% of females and 86% of males were overweight or obese, and 39% had high blood pressure; consequently, we referred 427 patients to their PCP or a new medical home. Conclusions: The use of a community-based intervention using the FINDRISC type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool is a suitable, easy to perform intervention that can be applied in community settings by community lay health promoters.

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Publicado

2021-06-24

Número

Sección

Artículos medicina y sociedad

Categorías