Screening High-Yield Groups for Diabetes

New cases of diabetes are diagnosed more frequently among screenees with selected characteristics than among the general population. Data for this paper were obtained from reports of diabetes screening programs sent from all parts of the United States to the Public Health Service and from special projects where detailed information on participants' characteristics was available. Reports sent to the Service on 176,000 persons screened throughout the country in the diabetes screening programs show that case yield is highest in older populations. Reports on 8,980 Federal employees screened in various cities also show that case yields are higher in those who are older, overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or have a history of births of large babies. Data from other special projects confirm these results. Data for the Federal employees demonstrate that in diabetes screening programs consideration should be given to testing only those over 40 and those under 40 who have a family history of diabetes. In the Federal employee screening project, the 69 percent of the total population with these characteristics yielded 95 percent of the new cases.