Diabetes Risk Score - German Study

German Diabetes Risk Score May Predict Development of Type 2 Diabetes

The German Diabetes Risk Score, which is based on anthropometric, dietary, and lifestyle factors, was an effective tool to identify patients at high risk or with undiagnosed diabetes, according to the results of a study reported in the March issue of Diabetes Care.

"The German Diabetes Risk Score (available at http://www.dife.de) is an accurate tool to identify individuals at high risk for or with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes," the authors write.

The European Union, the German Cancer Aid, the Federal Ministry of Science in Germany, the German Cancer Research Centre, the DFG, the German Ministry of Education and Science, and the Nationales Aktionsforum Diabetes Mellitus supported this study.

Diabetes Care. 2007;30:510-515.

Study Highlights

• The researchers applied their diabetes risk formula to several existing German study cohorts being followed up for incident diabetes. Study subjects were generally middle-aged adults, and diabetes was defined by a clinical diagnosis among most study subjects. A subset of participants underwent glucose tolerance testing.
• All subjects underwent an assessment of their health history and health habits, anthropometric data, diet, and exercise.
• The current diabetes risk scoring system was developed using one study cohort of 25,167 participants and was validated using another cohort of 23,398 subjects.
• The diabetes risk score was calculated using a formula involving waist circumference, height, age, the presence of hypertension, consumption of red meat, consumption of whole-grain bread, consumption of coffee, moderate alcohol use, physical activity, and a history of smoking.
• A score of 300 was associated with an incidence of diabetes of 0.3%, whereas a score of 750 portended a risk for diabetes of 23.2%.
• A score of 500 or more carried a sensitivity and specificity for predicting diabetes of 83.1% and 68.3%, respectively.
• Waist circumference was significantly and positively correlated with the risk for incident diabetes, even among younger participants.
• The German Diabetes Risk Score was also useful in diagnosing participants whose diabetes was diagnosed during glucose tolerance testing. A score of 500 or more carried a sensitivity between 82% and 93% and a specificity between 42% and 72% among this cohort.
• Overall, the German Diabetes Risk Score performed as well or better than previously used clinical risk assessments for type 2 diabetes.