Detection and intervention of people at risk of diabetes in community pharmacies of Valencia

Objective: To detect people at high or very high risk of diabetes (DM2) or alterations in carbohydrates metabolism, referral for possible medical diagnosis and to implement educational intervention.

Methods: A cross-sectional and longitudinal prospective observational study was carried out in 25 community pharmacies in Valencia between June-November 2018. Pharmacy users over 18 years old, not diagnosed with DM2 and who agreed to participate in the survey were included in the study. Non-probabilistic sampling was made.

Primary endpoint: Findrisc questionnaire score, capillary blood measurement (if F≥15), intervention and number of DM2 and preDM2 diagnosed. Differences between the groups were calculated using Chi-squared test, Student´s t test, or Wilcoxon test.

Results: This study was carried out in 25 pharmacies. The sample included 752 users. Of them, 148 (19,7%) with a high or very high risk of DM2 (F≥15). 118 valid capillary determinations were performed (22 did not accept and 8 did not repeat it), 78 (10.4%) had higher than normal results and 48 (6.4%) were referred to the doctor. 32 of these did not go to the physician or did not inform the pharmacist of the result. Of the 16 that we know the result, 12 (1.6%) were diagnosed with diabetes or preDM2.

Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest the usefulness of the community pharmacy as an agent with an important role in the screening of DM2, as this study detected almost 20% of users at high risk of DM2.