Report from an effort to prevent type 2 diabetes development in primary care

Incidence of type 2 diabetes in the elderly in Central Spain: Association with socioeconomic status, educational level, and other risk factors

AIMS

To analyze the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Central Spain and its association with the socioeconomic status (SES), educational level, and other risk factors (RF) in the elderly population of three communities.

METHODS

Data for 5278 elderly participants (≥65 years old) were obtained using a census population-based survey. There was a first and a second survey three years later. The association between SES, educational level, RF, and T2D incidence was analyzed.

RESULTS

The incidence rate for T2D was 9.8/1000 person-years without gender differences. Incident T2D was associated with low SES and lower educational levels. Baseline and follow-up BMI were also the main RFs for T2D. Communities' incidence rates were: (1) Margarita, working-class area: 11.3/1000 person-years; (2) Arévalo, agricultural region: 10.1/1000 person-years and; (3) Lista, professional high-income class area: 7.6/1000 person-years.

CONCLUSION

We found an incidence rate of 9.8/1000 person-years of T2D in the elderly population. The risk of T2D was associated with a lower income and educational level. An increase in BMI may mediate this association. Our results emphasize the necessity of strategies for the prevention of diabetes that includes an approach to SES, educational levels, and other RF among older individuals in Spanish community settings.

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by primary care health professionals for increasing moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in adult patients.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

DATA SOURCES

Databases (Medline and Medline in progress, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine and Education Index, ASSIA, PEDro, Bibliomap, Science Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index), trial registries (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, TRoPHI), and grey literature (OpenGrey) sources were searched (from inception to September 2020).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Randomised controlled trials of aerobic based physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care with a usual care control group or another control group that did not involve physical activity.

STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two independent reviewers screened the search results, extracted data from eligible trials and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool (version 2). Inverse variance meta-analyses using random effects models examined the primary outcome of difference between the groups in MVPA (min/week) from baseline to final follow-up. The odds of meeting the guidelines for MVPA at follow-up were also analysed.

RESULTS

14 566 unique reports were identified and 46 randomised controlled trials with a range of follow-ups (3-60 months) were included in the meta-analysis (n=16 198 participants). Physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care increased MVPA by 14 min/week (95% confidence interval 4.2 to 24.6, P=0.006). Heterogeneity was substantial (I2=91%, P<0.001). Limiting analyses to trials that used a device to measure physical activity showed no significant group difference in MVPA (mean difference 4.1 min/week, 95% confidence interval -1.7 to 9.9, P=0.17; I2=56%, P=0.008). Trials that used self-report measures showed that intervention participants achieved 24 min/week more MVPA than controls (95% confidence interval 6.3 to 41.8, P=0.008; I2=72%, P<0.001). Additionally, interventions increased the odds of patients meeting guidelines for MVPA by 33% (95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.50, P<0.001; I2=25%, P=0.11) versus controls. 14 of 46 studies were at high risk of bias but sensitivity analyses excluding these studies did not alter the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity interventions delivered or prompted by health professionals in primary care appear effective at increasing participation in self-reported MVPA. Such interventions should be considered for routine implementation to increase levels of physical activity and improve health outcomes in the population.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021209484.