Screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Ann Intern Med. 2015 Jun 2;162(11):765-76. doi: 10.7326/M14-2221.

Abstract

Background: Screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus could lead to earlier identification and treatment of asymptomatic diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), potentially resulting in improved outcomes.

Purpose: To update the 2008 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force review on diabetes screening in adults.

Data sources: Cochrane databases and MEDLINE (2007 through October 2014) and relevant studies from previous Task Force reviews.

Study selection: Randomized, controlled trials; controlled, observational studies; and systematic reviews.

Data extraction: Data were abstracted by 1 investigator and checked by a second; 2 investigators independently assessed study quality.

Data synthesis: In 2 trials, screening for diabetes was associated with no 10-year mortality benefit versus no screening (hazard ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.90 to 1.25]). Sixteen trials consistently found that treatment of IFG or IGT was associated with delayed progression to diabetes. Most trials of treatment of IFG or IGT found no effects on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality, although lifestyle modification was associated with decreased risk for both outcomes after 23 years in 1 trial. For screen-detected diabetes, 1 trial found no effect of an intensive multifactorial intervention on risk for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality versus standard control. In diabetes that was not specifically screen-detected, 9 systematic reviews found that intensive glucose control did not reduce risk for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality and results for intensive blood pressure control were inconsistent.

Limitation: The review was restricted to English-language articles, and few studies were conducted in screen-detected populations.

Conclusion: Screening for diabetes did not improve mortality rates after 10 years of follow-up. More evidence is needed to determine the effectiveness of treatments for screen-detected diabetes. Treatment of IFG or IGT was associated with delayed progression to diabetes.

Primary funding source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Fasting
  • Glucose Intolerance / diagnosis
  • Glucose Intolerance / therapy
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Mass Screening* / adverse effects
  • Risk Assessment
  • United States