Value of Indian Diabetes Risk Score among Medical Students and Its Correlation with Fasting Plasma Glucose, Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile

Abstract

Introduction: The Indian Diabetes Risk Score is a tool which was devised by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation to screen people for the risk of developing Diabetes mellitus; it comprises of the family history, the abdominal circumference, age and the physical activity. Aim of the Study:This study was aimed at finding out whether the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (MDRF) correlated with the blood sugar levels, the lipid profile and the blood pressure readings of medical students.Methods: Seventy five female and 75 male students who signed the informed consent were selected for the study. Their IDRS was calculated by using a validated questionnaire which involved the family history, the abdominal circumference, age and the details of the physical activity. All of them had their blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles measured.Results: There were 101 students with an IDRS of <30, 42 students with a moderate IDRS (30-50) and 7 who had a high IDRS of ≥60. The fasting plasma glucose was significantly correlated with the IDRS (P=0.001, r = 0.472), with a mean FPG of 84 ± 3.63mg/dl in the low risk groups, of 88 ± 4.93mg/dl in the moderate risk groups and of 94 ± 6.50mg/dl in the high risk groups. The total cholesterol value was r = 0.420 (P= 0.001), the total triglycerides value was r = 0.373 (P=0.001), the LDL cholesterol value was r = 0.578 (P=0.001) and the VLDL value was r = 0.566 (P=0.001), which positively correlated with the risk score and the HDL value r = -0.480 (P=0.001) correlated negatively with the risk score. There was no correlation between the IDRS and the blood pressure. Conclusion:Our study showed that nearly 40% of the medical students had a moderate to a high IDRS. The IDRS significantly correlated with the fasting plasma glucose and with all the components of the lipid profile. The IDRS did not correlate with the blood pressure readings. INTRODUCTIONDiabetes is one of the major non-communicable diseases of the world and India has the dubious distinction of being the "diabetic capital" of the world. We have 40 million Indians with diabetes this forms the largest diabetic pool in the world [1]. The major threat is that 66% of the population of the Indian diabetic pool is undiagnosed. The rise in diabetes in India can be attributed to the genetic predisposition, the sedentary life-styles and the changing food habits.It has been found that 66% of the Indian diabetes cases are not diagnosed, as compared to 50% in Europe and 33% in the USA. A diabetes risk score will help in devising effective screening strategies to unmask the hidden burden of the disease. The risk factor approach needs aggressive identification for planning prevention strategies and for an early diagnosis. Several diabetes risk scores or risk engines have been devised for prevention programmes in the USA, Scandinavia and in the UK. Mohan et al., from their Chennai Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES) cohort, have developed a single user friendly Indian diabetic risk score [2] (MDRF-IDRS), which takes into consid...

Screening for diabetes using Indian diabetes risk score

“…Of course many studies were done in India validating the IDRS score done by Anandh Vardhan et al among medical students, Lanord Stanley JM et al study among rural community in Tamil Nadu, Adhikari P et al among South Indian population. [7][8][9] All these validation studies accepts that the MDRF -IDRS predicts diabetes but also identified those with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Hence this tool may be useful for motivating people for primary prevention of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.…”

Study on prediction of type 2 diabetes mellitus in undergraduate MBBS students: a cross-section study in a tertiary health center, Kolkata

“…20,21 Similarly in a separate study by Anand et al found 40% to be in moderate to high risk group. 22 Study done by Nagalingam S et al found 37.5% and 44.7% students in high and moderate risk group respectively. 23 Another study in Karnataka found 86% students in moderate to high risk group.…”

“…In various studies proportion of abnormal WC ranges from 8.6-59.9%. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Except one study, all other studies reported high proportion, around half of students with abnormal WC. 22 Central obesity specially is a known important risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases.…”

“…[20][21][22][23][24][25] Except one study, all other studies reported high proportion, around half of students with abnormal WC. 22 Central obesity specially is a known important risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases. Abdominal fat is drained by the portal venous system and hence it causes an influx of free fatty acid in the liver which decreases hepatic insulin extraction, resulting in systemic hyperinsulinemia, and inhibits the suppression of glucose production by insulin.…”

“…Various studies across India found no to minimal physical activity ranging 5-85%. [20][21][22][23]25 Physical activity is a known important risk factor for diabetes as it increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin. Physical activity also helps in weight reduction, controls blood pressure and others.…”