Low yield of population-based screening for Type 2 diabetes in the Netherlands: the ADDITION Netherlands study.

BACKGROUND: About 10 years ago, it was estimated that half of all people with diabetes were unrecognized. Since then, according to the national guidelines, case finding for diabetes in general practice has become common in the Netherlands, resulting in a substantial increase of the prevalence of known diabetes. Nevertheless, the need for population-based screening is advocated, especially by the national federation of diabetes patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of population-based screening for Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: From 2002 to 2004, we performed a four-step screening procedure [questionnaire, random glucose measurement, fasting glucose measurement and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)] and a three-step procedure (without random glucose measurement) in 79 general practices in the southwestern region of the Netherlands. RESULTS: A total of 56 978 non-diabetic subjects, aged 50-70 years, were asked to complete the questionnaire. Those with a score above threshold underwent further glucose testing. Eventually, 586 participants (1.0%) were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (in four-step procedure 285 subjects and in three-step procedure 301). Impaired glucose regulation was assessed in 1011 participants (1.8%). Dropout rate in the screening programme among participants who should undergo an OGTT was 23.4%. The risk score was higher if glucose metabolism was more disturbed. CONCLUSION: In the Netherlands, the yield of population-based screening is low. The dropout among high-risk individuals was high. Given the decreasing prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and the possibility of opportunistic screening on a continuous basis, opportunistic screening for diabetes might be more appropriate than population-based screening. Further research on this topic is needed.

A study on the clinical equivalence and patient preference of fluticasone propionate 250 microg twice daily via the Diskus/Accuhaler inhaler or the Diskhaler inhaler in adult asthmatic patients.

The Diskus/Accuhaler inhaler (D/A) is a new multidose powder inhaler, designed to deliver all asthma drugs. This study was carried out to establish clinical equivalence between FP 250 microg twice daily (b.i.d.) via the D/A and FP 250 microg b.i.d. via the current powder inhaler, the Diskhaler (DH). Also, device handling and patient preference for both devices were determined. This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study. Adult asthmatics (364, aged 18-79) requiring inhaled corticosteroids in a daily dosage of 400 microg up to and including 1000 microg and demonstrating a mean morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) calculated from the last 7 days of the run-in of less than 85% of the response after salbutamol, a baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) between 50 and 90% of their predicted normal value, and an ability to correctly use both devices, were randomized to a 12-week treatment period. No statistically significant differences between the two devices were seen for mean morning PEFR (p = 0.76), mean evening PEFR (p = 0.88), median daytime and nighttime symptom score (p = 0.57 and p = 0.47), median percentage of rescue-free days and nights (p = 0.43 and p = 0.24), and clinic visit lung function. No differences in the safety profile of FP were seen. Patients found the D/A easier to use and easier with respect to assessing the number of doses remaining (both p < 0.001). Sixty-five percent of the patients expressed an overall preference for the D/A over the DH (p < 0.001). The results show that FP 250 microg b.i.d. via the D/A is clinically equivalent to delivery via the DH. Both treatments proved to be equally safe and were well tolerated. The D/A was easier to use and patients preferred the D/A over the DH.