American journal of preventive medicine
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Persons from inner-city immigrant and mixed-ethnic communities are known to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Such communities may also be underserved for preventive medical care. The authors hypothesized that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) could be used as a screening test for a community-based program to detect new cases of diabetes and persons at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. ⋯ There was a high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, and of patients at risk for diabetes, in this community setting. Community-based screening can be used as a method for identifying high percentages of patients at risk for diabetes or with undiagnosed diabetes in an inner city, immigrant, mixed-ethnic population.