Prevalence of Prediabetes among University Staff and the Clinical Utility of the American Diabetes Association Risk Test as A Screening Tool: A Cross-Sectional Study 2022

Prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), warrants urgent attention given its global prevalence and heightened burden in Palestine. This cross-sectional study assessed prediabetes prevalence, associated risk factors, and the validity of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Prediabetes Risk Test among An-Najah National University (ANNU) staff. A 10-month investigation enrolled 365 adults (>18 years), collecting sociodemographic data via interviewer-administered questionnaires. Prediabetes was defined per WHO criteria (HbA1c 5.7%–6.49%), with blood glucose measured via HbA1c testing. The ADA risk test (English version) was employed, and statistical analyses (IBM SPSS v21.0) included sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and ROC-AUC calculations. Among participants (60.8% male), prediabetes prevalence was 10.1%, with 8 undiagnosed T2DM cases identified. Multivariate regression identified age ≥50 years (50–59: OR=3.1, p=0.02; ≥60: OR=4.6, p=0.01) and obesity (BMI ≥30: OR=2.8, p=0.03) as significant predictors. The ADA test demonstrated moderate accuracy at a ≥4 cut off (sensitivity=72%, specificity=69%, AUC=0.738). This study highlights a concerning prevalence of prediabetes (10.1%) among ANNU staff, with age and obesity as critical modifiable risk factors in Palestine. The ADA tool’s moderate predictive efficacy supports its use for non-invasive screening in resource-limited settings. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to enhance prediabetes awareness, promote early lifestyle interventions, and mitigate T2DM progression. Further regional studies are recommended to validate these associations and refine risk assessment protocols.