While the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently suspended recommendations for screening for type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents due to lack of evidence, it was found that revisions to the recommendations according to age are in progress in Korea.
According to the Korean Diabetes Association on the 27th, it was confirmed that the association recently conducted an analysis on the effectiveness of diabetes screening tests by age.
In patients with no symptoms or signs of diabetes, it can be detected by measuring fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c levels or by using an oral glucose tolerance test.
The problem is that there are differences of opinion on the recommendations of each society in that the effectiveness of screening tests can vary according to age.
In response to the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents worldwide, the USPSTF concluded from its own investigation that there was no evidence that screening had a direct benefit on the health outcomes of children and adolescents.
The USPSTF judged that the evidence on how early intervention, such as treatment through screening tests, also affects health outcomes in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes is uncertain.
On the other hand, the USPSTF recommended lowering the screening age for young adults earlier this year. Put simply, the screening test itself is not the problem, but the cost-effectiveness may vary depending on the age at which the screening is performed.
In this regard, the Diabetes Association also started a study.
An official from the Diabetes Association said, “The original recommendation of the society was full screening over the age of 40, and screening for people with risk factors over 35. There were age-specific issues, so we re-analyzed the effectiveness of screening for adults over 20. “He said.
He said, “As a result of the analysis, we are preparing to change the recommendation for screening for people over the age of 20 with risk factors. .
The society calculated an efficiency index for how long screening takes to find a single real patient. Calculations were found to be less cost-effective for younger age groups, such as 20 to 25 years of age, but different results were obtained when additional risk factors were added.
An official from the society said, “Simply looking at the indicators, screening tests in the 20s are not useful. did.
He added, “With the results of the analysis submitted as a dissertation, the society is preparing to make a recommendation for the analysis and disclose it in the form of a review.”