Random capillary plasma glucose measurement in the screening of diabetes mellitus in high-risk subjects in Thailand

To assess the usefulness of random capillary plasma glucose (RCPG) measurem ent in screening for diabetes mellitus in high-risk subjects, a RCPG measur ement and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed in 684 w omen and 164 men, aged 16-76 years (mean +/- SD: 41.9 +/- 11.3 years). Risk factors included family history of diabetes in first degree relatives (53. 8%), obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m(2)) in 37.9%, dyslipidem ia (78.4%), hypertension, i.e. BP greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg (28. 5%), and history of gestational diabetes mellitus (16.6%). According to the 1997 ADA/1998 WHO Consultation criteria for a full OGTT, 118 cases (13.9%) were found to have diabetes. Each of 19 cases with RCPG greater than or eq ual to 13.3 mmol/l had diabetes according to OGTT, 4.7% of 427 cases with R CPG < 6.1 mmol/l had diabetes. Among 402 subjects with RCPG between 6.1 and < 13.3 mmol/l, 19.7% were found to have diabetes. Thus, 446 (52.6%) of 848 subjects would have been saved from OGTT if RCPG was used as a screening t est, in comparison to 33.1% if the cutpoints for RCPG (12.2 and 5.5 mmol/l) recommended by WHO Study Group (1985)/WHO Consultation (1998) were applied . Therefore, RCPG measurement is a useful screening test for the screening of diabetes mellitus in high risk subjects. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. Ail rights reserved.