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Diabetes screenings in patients without symptoms found ineffective

Screening for type 2 diabetes does not improve mortality risks at 10-year follow up, although treatment of impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance was found to delay the progression of diabetes, according to recently published data.

To update the 2008 Preventative Services Task Force review on adult screening for diabetes, researchers reviewed previously published data from the Cochrane databases, MEDLINE from between 2007 and October 2014 and studies from prior Task Force reviews.

The systematic review revealed that among two large trials, no association between diabetes screening and 10-year mortality benefit was found when compared with no screenings (HR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.9-1.25).

Treatment for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was associated with delayed progression to diabetes in 16 trials. No effects on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality was found in trials on the treatment of IFG or IGT, however, in one trial, lifestyle alterations were linked with a decreased risk for both outcomes after 23 years.

Intensive glucose control did not lower the risk for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality among patients whose diabetes was not specifically screen-detected. 

Researchers noted that many research gaps still exist in this area, such as screenings in minorities, lack of U.S. conducted studies and the long-term benefits of lifestyle change among patients with diabetes, IFG or OGT.

“More evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of treatments for screen-detected diabetes,” the researchers wrote. – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.