Type 2 diabetes NHS screening programme ‘inaccurate’

A study conducted by Oxford University and published in the BMJ, has indicated that the NHS programme set up last year to screen patients at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, is not likely to have much impact, concluding that inaccurate blood tests would give too many incorrect diagnoses.

The UK’s National Diabetes Prevention Programme, which is due to roll out nationwide by 2020, follows a ‘screen and treat’ approach, aiming to locate and identify thousands of people at high risk of developing the disease.

However, following an analysis of 50 intervention trials and 49 screening test studies, the researchers suggested that whilst the policy would benefit some, it would not provide a correct diagnosis to all those at high risk.

The study found that, although the only blood tests currently available to doctors and patients were fasting plasma glucose and HbA1C, these were not accurate at diagnosing pre-diabetes, and also found that changes in lifestyle of between three and six years brought about a reduction of a 37 per cent risk of type 2 diabetes.

In their conclusion, the study authors said “As screening is inaccurate, many people will receive an incorrect diagnosis and be referred on for interventions while others will be falsely reassured and not offered the intervention.

“These findings suggest that ‘screen and treat’ policies alone are unlikely to have substantial impact on the worsening epidemic of Type 2 diabetes.”

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme’s programme director Matt Fagg, said the programme was “based on a comprehensive collation of robust evidence” and was “a key part of the solution”.

He went on to say “Diabetes prevention also needs to start even earlier – we’re committed to reducing obesity and creating a more active culture so that we see fewer people at risk in the first place.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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