Detection of people at risk of diabetes in community pharmacies of Pontevedra (Spain) (DEDIPO)

Objective

The aim of this study was to detect people at risk of suffering diabetes or changes in carbohydrate metabolism and to refer them for possible diagnosis to health care centers. The number of diagnoses and costs for the pharmacy were recorded.

Methods

A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in community pharmacies in Pontevedra in September–October of 2014. The Findrisc questionnaire was completed by pharmacy users over 18 years old. If Findrisc score was ≥15, capillary blood glucose was measured, and the participant was referred to a physician if the value was ≥110 mg/dL. The main variables included score in the Findrisc questionnaire, number of diabetes diagnosed, and cost of the service.

Differences between the groups were calculated using a Chi-squared test, a Student's t test, and/or a Wilcoxon test.

Results

This study was conducted in 180 pharmacies on a sample of 4222 users, including 992 (23.5%) with a high or very high risk of diabetes (F ≥ 15). In the 1060 basal capillary blood glucose tests performed, mean glucose level was 110.2 (SD = 20.4) mg/dL (56–254). The Galician Health Service sent information about 83 of the 384 (9.1%) subjects referred to a physician: 28 (33.7%) of them were diagnosed with diabetes (3.1% of the sample), and 26 (31.3%) were diagnosed with prediabetes (2.8% of the sample).

Cost per diagnosed subject was €184.22 per subject with diabetes and €96.86 per subject with prediabetes.

Conclusions

The proportion of subjects with new diagnosis of diabetes (3.1%) shows the high efficiency of a screening program for hidden diabetics implemented at community pharmacies as the one presented here.