PRE-STARt Risk Tool
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PREvention STrategies for Adolescents at Risk of diabetes - validation of a risk tool for young people aged 12 - 14 years
IRAS ID
173431
Contact name
Melanie Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The study aims to evaluate and refine a screening tool that is able to identify young people between the ages of 12 and 14 years who may be at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the future. Diabetes (specifically, Type 2 diabetes) is a serious health condition normally associated with older age, but increases in unhealthy diets and the modern sedentary lifestyle are thought to be major contributing factors to the sharp increase in the number of young people being diagnosed with this disease. The disease can have serious health consequences, therefore the ability to screen for, and identify as early as possible those who may be at risk, is important if we are going to prevent diabetes and reduce its incidence. We have developed a screening tool however it needs to be evaluated and refined against an appropriate data set in order for it to be considered ‘fit for purpose’. An independent clinician will review the data taken from participants which will consist of a number of biochemical variables associated with cardio-metabolic health i.e. weight, blood pressure, lipids. The clinician will assign them as being either at ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ risk based on their expert opinion. This data will be anonymised and compared to the results from the risk tool. Parents will fill out the risk tool on behalf of their child and participants will be ranked as either ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ risk. It is hoped that the risk tools ability to identify young people at higher risk will be comparable to that of the expert clinician, however if not the data will be used to refine and improve the risk tool. The risk tool will then provide an easy and cost-effective way to screen for diabetes risk in adolescents.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0121
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion