Results of the implementation of the DP-TRANSFERS project in Catalonia: a translational method to improve diabetes screening and prevention in primary care

Introduction

DP-TRANSFERS is a translational lifestyle intervention project, which follows a previous protocol described in the DE-PLAN-CAT study.

Objective

Analyze the feasibility of reproducing the intensive intervention and estimating the effect of translation in real conditions of clinical practice in primary care.

Methodology

Implementation of the face-to-face group intervention adjusted to 2 years. After screening, the intervention consisted of a basic module and a continuity module. Stratifying by clusters (health centers), a representative sample (centers, professionals and participants) was evaluated (FINDRISC > 11 and/or prediabetes) from 2016 to 2020. The effect of the intervention on the incidence of diabetes was analyzed.

Results

The intervention, feasible in 95 of 123 centers, involved 343 of 647 professionals. Of 2381 subjects screened, 1713 participated in the basic module, with 1186 participants completing the first year and 776 completing the second. 121 participants (7.06%) were diagnosed with diabetes: 77 (4.49%) during the first year; 44 (2.57%) during the second.

The bivariate analysis showed that those subjects in whom diabetes affected differed in: previous glycemic status, A1c, HDL-cholesterol, FINDRISC score and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and in the differences between the beginning and end of the study of: body weight, BMI and abdominal circumference.

Conclusions

The intensive intervention substantially reduced (23.6%) the incidence of diabetes compared to that previously estimated in standardized intervention. The following acted as protective factors: a better glycemic status, lower baseline risk, elevated HDL-cholesterol, or achieving a reduction in weight or abdominal circumference during the study.