This is a community-based implementation program consisting of multiple components delivered by a multidisciplinary team to detect and prevent young onset diabetes with precision and value using biogenetic markers, digital tools, integrated care through public private partnership. Adults aged between 18 and 44 (inclusive) without known diabetes and with at least one risk factor for diabetes will undergo a saliva DNA and capillary blood test and complete a questionnaire. Depending on their risk levels, participants will be stratified to high risk and low risk progressors to diabetes. The high risk progressors will undergo annual oral glucose tolerance test to detect diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). All participants will receive a personalized report indicating their genetic and modifiable risk explained by nurses or doctors. All participants will be offered regular access to webinars for education and empowerment for 2 years. The high risk group will additionally receive a 2-year risk-stratified intervention with different combinations of care interventions. These include clinical and laboratory assessment for comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic risks, medical and nurse consultations, empowerment by health messages, webinars, face-to-face workshops, subsidies for medications and self-monitoring tools (e.g. CGM devices, weighing scale) to motivate behavioural change. The outcomes will be analysed within the REAIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance), progresssion to prediabetes or diabetes, patient reported outcomes and cost effectiveness.
BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: In Hong Kong, 1 in 10 adults have diabetes. In hospital-based clinic setting, 1 in 5 adults with diabetes were diagnosed before the age of 40, i.e. young-onset diabetes (YOD). The latter is the major driver of recurrent hospitalizations, critical illnesses and premature death. Compared to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or HbA1c, 2-hour PG is needed to detect impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes (DM). Besides, 2-h PG is more robust than FPG or HbA1c in predicting major events and death. The selection of participants with IGT for intervention is based on the positive effects of lifestyle modification and metformin only in individuals with IGT and not in individuals with isolated IFG in randomized clinical trials. Besides, there is strong familial tendency of YOD and based on our published and in-house 20-year prospective data in a workforce, 80% of people who developed DM came from 20-30% of individuals with high genetic risk unmasked by modifiable risk factors such as obesity and smoking. In this implementation project, investigators shall use a 2-stepped approach to identify adults aged between 18 and 44 (inclusive) with genetic predisposition to undergo yearly OGTT to diagnose IGT and diabetes early for intervention. Investigators shall apply the proprietary DForesee (DF) risk algorithm including clinical and biogenetic risk factors to select the top 25% of participants at the highest risk for IGT or diabetes in next 10 years to undergo yearly OGTT accompanied by a risk-based intervention program. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: By using quasi-experimental design based on an evidence-based multi-component strategy, investigators aim to detect and delay the onset of diabetes in adults aged less than 45 years. Investigators aim to identify 9,000 adults aged between 18 and 44 years (inclusive) in community- and clinic settings during a 2-year period, followed by 2 years of risk-stratified intervention. Investigators shall use clinical and biogenetic assessment including DNA testing, capillary blood test and administration of questionnaires to classify participants to high risk and low risk progressors. All participants will receive risk-based intervention. Low risk progressors will receive a personalized report indicating their genetic and modifiable risk explained by nurses and with repeated clinical and biogenetic assessment at year 2. The high risk progressors will additionally undergo annual oral glucose tolerance test to detect diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and will receive a personalized report explained by doctors. All participants will be offered regular access to webinars for education and empowerment for 2 years. The high risk group will additionally receive a 2-year risk-stratified intervention with different combinations of care interventions. These include clinical and laboratory assessment for comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic risks, medical and nurse consultations, empowerment by health messages, webinars, face-to-face workshops, subsidies for medications and self-monitoring tools (e.g. CGM devices for IGT and DM groups only, weighing scale for all high risk progressors) to motivate behavioural change. INCLUSION and EXCLUSION CRITERIA Age 18-44 (inclusive) years without known diabetes, at least one risk factor for diabetes and with usual place of residence in Hong Kong, The risk factors for diabetes include central or general obesity, family history of diabetes, smoking history, history of hypertension, high blood glucose level, abnormal lipid level/ vascular disease, or fatty liver, history of gestational diabetes polycystic ovary syndrome or delivery of baby≥ 4kg (for women only), less than 150mins of physical activity every week. People with known diabetes or conditions considered to be unsuitable by the project team including illiteracy will be excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES The outcomes will be analysed within the REAIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance), progresssion to prediabetes or diabetes, patient reported outcomes and cost effectiveness.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9,000
All participants will undergo genetic test and clinical measurement including body weight, body height, blood pressure, waist circumference and capillary blood glucose to predict diabetes risk with report explanation by doctors (for high risk, IGT and DM) and nurses (low risk). Genetic report will be updated annually for high risk and IGT group using updated clinical factors (e.g. age, BMI, BP).
High risk progressors will undergo OGTT and measurement of CKM factors at baseline. In those without IGT or diabetes, they will undergo OGTT and CKM risk factor assessment annually for 2 years. The IGT group will additionally have measurement of beta-cell function (HOMA indexes) and the DM group will additionally have autoimmune marker measurement.
Nurse and medical consultations and subsidized medications (metformin, statin, ARB) will be provided to the high risk progressor, IGT and diabetes groups as appropriate for control of glucose and CKM risk factors.
All high risk progressors will be given subsidized weighing scale and low-intensity laboratory assessments, nurse and doctor consultation, regular WhatsApp messages and webinars for 2 years. The IGT and DM group will receive additional subsidized CGM devices for empowerment.
All participants in high risk, IGT and diabetes groups will have regular follow-up by family doctors and nurses.
Participants found to have diabetes on OGTT will undergo annual JADE assessment which include eye/foot/urine/blood tests with issue of a personalized JADE report. The JADE Program is a quality improvement program to improve self management and inform shared decision making between doctor and patient.
All participants would join the webinars. High risk progressors, IGT and DM group will receive regular WhatsApp messages, webinars and workshops.
Asia Diabetes Foundation
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGIncidence of prediabetes or diabetes in the high and low risk progressor groups
DForesee risk score will be used to define the high and low risk progressor groups at baseline and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) will be used to detect IGT or diabetes in the high risk progressor group and 10% of low risk progressor group. DForesee risk score consists of the overall risk for prediabetes and the overall risk for type 2 diabetes which will have 4 different risk levels including low, moderate, high and very high risk.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years.
The conversion rate of glycaemic status including Impaired fasting glucose (IFG), Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes over the study period
The conversion rate of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes will be assessed for all high risk progressors using OGTT at baseline and annually. In addition,1 in 10 of the low risk progressors will also undergo OGTT at baseline and year 2 to ascertain their conversion rate to IGT or diabetes.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years.
Change in the HbA1c over the study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the HbA1c to determine the change in the blood glucose level during the program periods.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the Programme in 2 years
Change in the blood glucose level including FPG and 2-hour PG over the study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the blood glucose level including FPG and 2-hour PG to determine the change in the blood glucose level during the program periods. In addition, 1 in 10 of the low risk progressors will evaluate the blood glucose level including FPG and 2-hour PG at baseline and year 2.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the Programme in 2 years
Change in the blood pressure level over the study period
High risk progressors will measure the blood pressure including the systolic and diastolic blood pressure at least once a year to evaluate the change or control of blood pressure. In addition, low risk progressors will also measure the blood pressure at baseline and year 2.
Time frame: From the date of the recruitment until the end of the Programme in 2 years
Change in lipids level including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides over study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the control and changes of lipids throughout the study period.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Change in body weight over the study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the change in body weight over the study period. Low risk progressors will also measure the body weight at baseline and year 2.
Time frame: From the date of the recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Change in waist circumference over the study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the change or control of waist circumference. Low risk progressors will also measure the waist circumference at baseline and year 2.
Time frame: From the date of the recruitment until the end of the Programme in 2 years
Change in albuminuria over the study period
High risk progressors will undergo yearly assessment to evaluate the change in albuminuria over the study period.
Time frame: From the date of the recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Change in health literacy over the study period by using questionnaire
Questionnaire will be used by all participants to assess the health literacy by comparing the number of questions being answered correctly at baseline and at year 2 of the programme. The questionnaire consists of 10 multiple choice questions with 5 options including the questions about the health knowledge on 4 highs (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity) and healthy diet. There will be one point for each question with a total of 10 points. The higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Quality of life using EuroQoL with 5 demensions and 3 levels (EQ-5D-3L) Questionnaire
Questionnaire will be used to assess the quality of life (EuroQoL - EQ-5D-3L) of all participants at baseline and year 2. The EQ-5D-3L essentially consists of the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has three levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems (labelled 1-3). The EQ VAS records the patient's self-rated health on a vertical visual analogue scale numbered from 0 to 100. The endpoints are labelled 'The best health you can image' at number 100 and 'The worst health you can image' at number 0. The VAS can be used as a quantitative measure of health outcome that reflects the patient's own judgement.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Change in lifestyles including eating habits, exercises, sleeping habits, smoking and alcohol over the study period by using questionnaire
Questionnaire, adopted from the questionnaire of a health promotion campaign named "Better Health for a Better Hong Kong", will be used to assess the change in lifestyles of all participants including eating habits, exercises, sleeping habits, smoking and alcohol at baseline and year 2. The questionnaire consists of 38 questions with multiple choice and free text questions which will enquiry about the intake frequency and serving of different food types, frequency, duration and intensity of exercises, smoking and drinking frequency, sleeping duration, etc.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
The number of usage in healthcare resources such as clinic visits and hospital admissions
The number of usage in healthcare resources such as clinic visits and hospital admissions by self reporting by the participants during nurse and doctor consultations of high risk progressors and information from publicly available resources for all participants.
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
Cost-effectiveness analysis by mearsuring the transition rate of progression from normal glucose tolerace to IGT and IGT to diabetes during 4 year programme
A Markov model will be developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the study by measuring the transition rate of progression from normal glucose tolerance to IGT and IGT to diabetes during the programme period. Cost effectiveness results will be estimated using incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICER) derived by dividng the difference in total costs by difference in health outcome or effect (QALYs or YLL).
Time frame: From the date of recruitment until the end of the programme in 2 years
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