Validation of a Type 2 Diabetes Screening Tool in Rural Honduras

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo validate a low-cost tool for identifying diabetic patients in rural areas of Latin America.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA regression equation incorporating postprandial time and a random plasma glucose was used to screen 800 adults in Honduras. Patients with a probability of diabetes of ≥20% were asked to return for a fasting plasma glucose (FPG). A random fifth of those with a screener-based probability of diabetes <20% were also asked to return for follow-up. The gold standard was an FPG ≥126 mg/dl.RESULTSThe screener had very good test characteristics (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.89). Using the screening criterion of ≥0.42, the equation had a sensitivity of 74.1% and specificity of 97.2%.CONCLUSIONSThis screener is a valid measure of diabetes risk in Honduras and could be used to identify diabetic patients in poor clinics in Latin America.

Access to Mobile Communication Technology and Willingness to Participate in Automated Telemedicine Calls Among Chronically Ill Patients in Honduras

“…Respondents reported their age, gender, and educational attainment using categories developed for a prior survey of chronically ill patients in Honduras. 26 Questions about patients' access to cell phones, landline phones, voicemail, and text messaging were developed specifically for this study. Respondents also were asked: ''Would you be willing to receive telephone messages previously recorded by a clinician to .…”

Risk scores for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Latin America: a systematic review of population‐based studies

“…Central America has contributed poorly to this systematic review, which calls researchers and health officers from this region to conduct studies to develop efficient approaches to early identify people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, Milton and collaborators developed a prognostic model benefiting from data of a primary care clinic; their model yielded a discrimination of 89% . Despite the limitations of this work, it is worth acknowledging that the model was intended for rural populations in Honduras, who have been underrepresented to date in the selected and discussed type 2 diabetes mellitus risk scores.…”

Diabetes risk scores for Hispanics living in the United States: A systematic review

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