We examine how well screening tests can detect risk for diabetes and heart disease in people of African descent. Screening tests improve public health by detecting when a person is at risk for a disease. They indicate when an intervention can help prevent this disease, thereby improving the outcome for this individual. We focus on triglyceride-based (TG) screening tests. These tests are designed to detect diabetes, heart disease, or both at a very early stage.
Diabetes and heart disease are serious conditions that occur in every racial group. The causes are similar in everyone, but racial groups may differ in the earliest signs of risk. Therefore, the same screening tests may not be equally effective in every group. Scientists first developed screening tests for diabetes and heart disease in populations of European descent. These tests (e.g., Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertriglycerdemic Waist) are triglyceride based. Our work has demonstrated that these screenings are less effective for detecting risk for diabetes and heart disease in populations of African descent than European descent. Our research is determining why triglyceride screenings do not work well in populations of African descent. In addition, we are identifying screening tests that are effective in populations of African descent. We hope this research conveys the benefit of early intervention to people of African descent.