Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research
Use of glycosylated haemoglobin as diagnostic tool in Greenland: prevalence of diagnosed diabetes mellitus
Published in: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome | Issue 1/2013
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Background
The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) in Greenland has been reported very high with only 30% of cases diagnosed. In 2010, glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) was introduced as a diagnostic tool in Greenland. However, the current use of A1c is unknown as well as the current prevalence of diagnosed DM.
The aim of this study was firstly to estimate the use of A1C as diagnostic tool within the first 27 months after introducing the method and secondly to estimate the age and gender specific prevalence of diagnosed DM in Greenland in 2012.
Methods
This study was perfomed as a cross-sectional register study using data from electronic medical records (EMR). To analyse the use of A1C as diagnostic tool:
A sample amongst all Greenlanders at or above age 35 old was used to determine the number of individuals screened with A1C within a 27 month period, excluding those already known to have DM.
To estimate the prevalence of diagnosted DM: Patients with DM were identified electronically using a statistic module run on data in the EMR. Age and gender specific prevalence was estimated using the Greenlandic population as of 1 January 2012 as the background population.
Results
The test sample resulted in a study group of 1008 individuals from which 2.3% (23) were excluded because they were already known to have DM. Among the remaining 985, 13.6% were tested with A1C at least once during the 27 months of observation. DM was diagnosed in 7.5% (10) of the tested persons and in 1.0% of the whole group.
Regarding prevalence, a total of 920 patients with diagnosed DM were identified. The total prevalence among adults aged 20–79 years old was 2.20% (95% CI: 2.05-2.34) with no significant difference between genders.
Conclusion
Testing for DM using A1C as diagnostic tool is used in Greenland. The prevalence of diagnosed DM in Greenland remains low although increasing. Undiagnosed DM may still be an important issue in Greenland.