Risk Assessment of Type 2 Diabetes in Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary Hospital

Resumo

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial disease influenced by sedentary behaviors and erratic eating habits. Simple, practical, and non-invasive surveys can help identify individuals at increased risk of developing T2D.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study applied the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to healthcare professionals at a tertiary hospital. The variables studied were those included in FINDRISC and IPAQ. Personal history of diabetes was an exclusion criterion. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 27.

Results: Twenty-two respondents with diabetes were excluded. Of the remaining 279 individuals, 68.4% were under 45 years of age, and 2.6% were 65 years or older; 51.6% were physicians, 12.3% nurses, 8.2% healthcare assistants or senior technicians, and 6.1% diagnostic and therapeutic technicians. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.8 ± 3.7 kg/m². About half had a family history of T2D. The median FINDRISC score was 5 (minimum 0, maximum 22). Around two-thirds of the healthcare professionals were at low risk, with only 4.5% at high risk and 0.4% at very high risk; physicians appeared to have the lowest risk among the professional groups.

Conclusion: The prevalence of T2D was similar to the estimated rate for the Portuguese population. Most respondents had a normal BMI, regular physical activity, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which may explain their low risk of developing T2D. The FINDRISC questionnaire could be valuable in screening, especially when the risk of T2D is elevated.