Riesgo de diabetes mellitus tipo II en personas de las parroquias de Taday y Guapán del cantón Azogues según el cuestionario de Findrisk, periodo octubre 2024 - enero 2025

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The FINDRISK questionnaire is a non-invasive, low-cost screening tool used to estimate an individual’s 10-year risk of developing T2DM in primary health care settings. Objective: To estimate the risk of T2DM according to the FINDRISK questionnaire and identify associated factors among adults aged 20–64 years residing in the Taday and Guapán parishes of Azogues Canton, Ecuador, by assessing sociodemographic, anthropometric, and behavioral characteristics and determining the proportion of individuals eligible for confirmatory biochemical testing. Methods: A population-based, community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to January 2025. A two-stage stratified random sampling method was applied, with sample allocation by parish. Sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary habits, family history, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Descriptive statistics and association analyses using chi-square (χ²) tests of association were performed to examine the relationships between risk categories and covariates. Results: A total of 357 participants were included, of whom 51.8% were women. The age distribution was as follows: 18–44 years, 54.9%; 45–59 years, 33.6%; and ≥60 years, 11.5%. Excess body weight (BMI ≥25) was identified in 64.1% of participants; 53.2% reported <30 minutes of physical activity per day; 47.9% did not consume fruits and vegetables daily; 40.6% reported the use of antihypertensive medication and/or hypertension; 46.2% reported a history of hyperglycemia; and 74.2% had a family history of diabetes mellitus. According to the FINDRISK score, 38.7% of participants (n≈138) were classified as having low risk, 31.4% (n≈112) as slightly elevated risk, 17.1% (n≈61) as moderate risk, 11.8% (n≈42) as high risk, and 1.1% (n≈4) as very high risk. Approximately 30% of participants had a FINDRISK score ≥12 points and were therefore considered eligible for confirmatory biochemical testing. Conclusions: In the Taday and Guapán parishes, approximately one in three screened adults requires priority confirmatory biochemical testing through fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if the results are discordant, as well as participation in lifestyle interventions. This stepwise approach appears feasible within the local primary health care setting. Longitudinal follow-up and further research are recommended to estimate progression to T2DM and evaluate the impact of the interventions. Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, surveys and questionnaires, risk factors, body mass index, screening programs.