Should we screen the population for type 2 diabetes?
Simon Griffin
MRC Epidemiology Unit & CEDAR
Abstract: The topic of screening evokes passionate debate as demonstrated by the ongoing media interest in mammographic screening for breast cancer. While some are convinced that earlier detection and treatment saves lives, others are concerned about over-diagnosis, pseudo-disease and false reassurance. Type 2 diabetes meets many of the criteria for suitability for screening. It is common and is associated with a considerable burden of preventable morbidity, mortality and health service costs. Furthermore, the condition may be present for several years before it is detected and at diagnosis up to 50% of patients exhibit signs of complications of the disease. However, whether screening for type 2 diabetes is associated with net benefit and is an efficient use of scarce health service resources remains uncertain. In spite of this the NHS has initiated the ‘Health Checks’ programme in which individuals aged 40 to 74 years are invited to attend their local general practice for assessment of their risk of diabetes, cardiovascular and renal disease. I will describe a programme of research in which my colleagues and I attempted to overcome some of the methodological challenges related to evaluation of screening programmes (for example lead and length time bias and clustering) in order to resolve the key uncertainties concerning screening for diabetes.
Speaker: Simon Griffin is Assistant Director of the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit (www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk), Deputy Director of CEDAR (the UKCRC Public Health Centre of Excellence for Diet and Activity Research, http://www.cedar.iph.cam.ac.uk/), an Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and NHS Cambridgeshire, primary care lead for the Eastern Region Diabetes Research Network and an assistant General Practitioner at Lensfield Medical Practice. He qualified from the London Hospital Medical College in 1986 and trained in Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Southampton and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine prior to his appointment to the University of Cambridge. He leads a research programme which contributes to efforts aimed at preventing the growing burden of diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders by translating epidemiological knowledge into preventive action, and evaluating the effectiveness of different preventive approaches in clinical trials. He has been awarded over £36M in extramural research grants and authored over 170 publications. Away from work Simon plays soccer and surfs.
Directions: The main entrance is reached from Clarkson Road by going along the footpath to the right of the Newton Institute, and turning left through the gatehouse towards the main building (Pavilion A), which has a glass front and a curved grassed roof. The main entrance is in the middle of the glass front. Free Parking is available after 5pm on Clarkson and Wilberforce Roads and by entering the site off Wilberforce Road. Admittance may be difficult after 7:45.
Provisional Next Meetings:
Vern Farewell (MRC Biostatistics).
5th March – Peter Treasure (Easter Cancer Registry and Information Centre & Department of Public Health and Primary Care).
March – Stephen Kaptoge (Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit).
25th April – David Greenberg (Eastern Cancer Registration & Information Centre).
Supper: Some members eat regularly in the University Centre before each meeting at 6pm. Feel free to join them.
Subscriptions: of 1 pound are now due for attending the 2012-2013 session.
Secretary: Peter Watson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF;
telephone 01223 355294 Extension 801; E-mail [log in to unmask]
Take a look at our website: http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/people/peter.watson/csdg.html
You may leave the list at any time by sending the command
SIGNOFF allstat
to [log in to unmask], leaving the subject line blank.
|
