[Diagnostic performance of the FINDRISC questionnaire to identify insulin resistance in adults].

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a state prior to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and it is reversible with lifestyle modification. However, it is underdiagnosed due to the difficulty in its measurement.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the FINDRISC questionnaire to identify IR.

Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed in adults aged 20 to 60 years without previous diagnosis of T2D. Those using steroids and pregnant women were excluded. IR was diagnosed through the Triglycerides/glucose index. A ROC curve was used to establish the cut-off point for the diagnosis of IR. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios were calculated. Risk measurement for IR was performed with the FINDRISC instrument.

Results: A total of 253 participants were included, with a prevalence of IR of 60.8%. The area under the curve of the FINDRISC instrument was 0.813 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.759-0.865), with a cut-off point of 8. Sensitivity was 94.8% and specificity was 48.5%, positive predictive value was 74% and negative 86%, with a positive likelihood ratio of 1.84 and a negative of 0.11.

Conclusions: The FINDRISC instrument is a useful screening tool to identify subjects with IR at the first level of care. A score ≥ 8 identifies subjects with IR.