Screening for diabetes risk using the diabetes risk test and point-of-care hemoglobin A1C values in adults seen in a dental clinic.

Abstract

To explore the feasibility of screening for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and the prevalence of adult patients seen in a dental clinic at risk for T2DM based on American Diabetes Association (ADA) diabetes risk test (DRT) scores and Point of Care (POC) Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) values. A cross-sectional analysis of data from adults 18-89 years old seen in an academic dental clinic between November 2019 and April 2022 without prior history of diabetes. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from electronic health records and odontograms. Frequency distributions, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis. Of the 13,519 patients whose data were included, 54.7% (n=7,389) were female. Of those with race and ethnicity data, 53.6% (n=2,871) were white, 40.2% (n=2,153) were African American, and 29.5% (n=1,559) were Hispanic/Latino. Mean ±SD age was 47.0+17.0 years; mean±SD BMI was 28.0+6.1 kg/m2. Thirty-five percent (n=4,774) had DRT scores reflecting T2DM risk. Those at risk were more likely to be older, male, and overweight/obese than those not at risk (P<0.001). Of those at risk who consented to a POC A1C (9.8%, n=470), 40.2% (n=189) had values consistent with dysglycemia (A1C>5.7%); 34.9% (n=164) reflecting prediabetes (A1C= 5.7-6.4%) and 5.3% (n=25) diabetes (A1C>6.5%). Diabetes screening in a dental clinic identified that over one-third of adults without T2DM were at risk based on DRT scores. Of those who had POC AICs conducted; 40% had dysglycemia. Diabetes screening in an academic dental clinic can help identify patients at risk for T2DM.