Screening for the risk of diabetes among people aged 31 to 40 years using Indian' diabetic risk score among people attending medicine out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai

CONTEXT: With an estimated 8.7% of the diabetic population in the 20 and 70 age group, diabetes is a rising problem in India. It is important to screen for diabetes, so that the incidence of diabetes and its complications can be controlled. IDRS is a simple method useful for diabetes risk screening. AIM: To assess the risk of diabetes among people aged 31–40 years and to estimate the proportion of participants at high risk for developing diabetes. SETTING AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study done among the people attending medicine out-patient department of a tertiary care Hospital in Chennai. METHODS: This study was conducted among 318 participants aged 31 to 40 years. Convenient sampling method was used. IDRS questionnaire was used to assess the risk of diabetes. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data was entered in excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS software version 16, statistical analysis will be done using Chi square test. RESULTS: According to IDRS, 35.2% (112) had high risk for developing diabetes, 55% (175) had moderate risk and 9.7% (31) had low risk for developing diabetes. Those subjects with family history of diabetes, increased waist circumference and increased age were found to be associated with higher risk of developing diabetes. CONCLUSION: In this study, majority of the participants had moderate risk (55%) and high risk (35.2%) of developing diabetes. Thus, it is necessary to bring more awareness among the people and initiation of lifestyle changes to delay the onset of diabetes and its complications.