Risk assessment of type 2 diabetes among the adult population using Indian Diabetes Risk Score: a community-based cross-sectional study in Central India

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of long term morbidity and is a major health hazard in a developing country like India. Because of the disease’s growing burden, its iceberg nature, its consequences, and the ability to prevent the complications through early identification and treatment, strong efforts for early diabetes diagnosis are essential. Early identification of the high risk individuals would help in taking appropriate intervention thus helping to prevent, or at least delay, the onset of diabetes. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is a cost-effective tool for screening of undiagnosed diabetic individuals in the community. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra among 360 participants above 18 years of age. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) was used to assess risk of diabetes. Chi-square test was applied to determine association between variables. Results: Out of the 360 study participants, 86 (23.89%), 156 (43.33%) and 118 (32.78%) participants were in low risk, moderate risk and high risk categories respectively. Risk of diabetes was significantly associated with age, socioeconomic status, physical activity, adequate fruit and vegetable intake, high consumption of sweet foods, history of hypertension, family history of diabetes, body mass index and waist circumference. Conclusions: Risk assessment using IDRS is useful for screening of individuals. This would help to take necessary interventions for their early diagnosis and treatment.