Abstract P113: The Primordial Prevention Project: Pilot Study of Disclosing Child’s Diabetes Genetic Risk Information

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children has risen dramatically. NHANES data of 12-19 years old showed a significant increase, from 9% to 23%, in pre-diabetes and diabetes from 1999-2008, which was related to increases in BMI. Lifestyle interventions in adults have been shown to be effective at reducing T2D risk, however, interventions in families have been inconclusive in demonstrating the benefit of lifestyle change in reducing T2D risk. We hypothesized that using child’s genetic risk information in families at high risk of developing T2D would serve as a motivator to improve behaviors related to risk factors for T2D. We conducted a pilot study of 44 families and their children aged 2-8 who consented to participate in baseline, risk-disclosure and 3-month follow-up sessions. We identified families as high risk based on a maternal history of gestational diabetes, large for gestational age, or paternal obesity. Parents were surveyed on their family’s physical activity and dietary behaviors, and attitudes and motivations for lifestyle change at baseline and 3-month follow-up. At baseline, saliva samples were collected from children for genotyping of variants previously associated with obesity and T2D risk in genome-wide association studies. When genotyping was completed families were then scheduled to receive results. Parents completed questionnaires related to their anxiety (STAI-State) and depressive symptoms (POMS) prior to receiving their child’s genetic risk and immediately after the intervention. Parents received their child’s genetic risk report, in combination with a quasi-motivational interviewing session and educational materials. At the end of the session parents set individualized behavior goals for themselves and their children based on their responses to baseline questionnaires related to dietary and PA behaviors. Follow-up at 3 months are still being collected. Results from the risk disclosure session are reported here. Parents were 35±5 years old; 11% Latino, 26% black and 63% White; and 60% were mothers. Parents reported a significant increase in fatigue (ß =0.98, p=0.001), depressiveness (ß=0.35, p=0.04), and anxiety (ß =3.0, p=0.001) from pre-risk disclosure compared to post risk-disclosure. Parents reported a significant increase in their confidence to change their family’s behaviors after receiving the intervention (ß=0.34, p=0.001). All parents committed to a personalized health behavior change after learning of their child’s risk. In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate that genetic risk may be a useful motivator to encourage parents to take immediate action to make improvements to their family’s health behaviors. Short-term follow-up results will determine whether changes were meaningful in actual behavior changes.