The Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol) has developed a mathematical model that enables the early identification of type 2 diabetes mellitus among individuals with a sedentary lifestyle. This tool has been validated in a study recently published in the journal Primary Care Diabetes, which involved office workers –a group particularly vulnerable due to the sedentary nature of their jobs.
The model could improve the diagnosis of this underdiagnosed disease. Currently, nearly half of all cases of type 2 diabetes go undetected, which negatively impacts patients’ health and significantly increases healthcare costs.
A complementary tool
The mathematical model developed by IDIAPJGol incorporates various sedentary behaviour patterns –such as the frequency and duration of breaks while sitting– as a complementary tool to improve early diagnosis of the disease. The tool also considers body mass index and sleep duration, which are associated with a higher risk of developing the condition.
The model is based on data collected from a cross-sectional study involving 213 office workers, 81 of whom had already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Using the ActivPAL3TM device, which objectively measures sedentary activity, the research team analysed five non-invasive variables: age, sex, body mass index, hours of sleep, and the number of sedentary breaks shorter than 20 minutes per day. Based on this information, the authors created a logistic regression model with high predictive capacity (94.58 % sensitivity and 97.99 % specificity).
This is the first study aimed at designing a mathematical model applicable in primary care consultations that incorporates sedentary behaviour patterns of office workers to detect the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Francesc Alòs, researcher at IDIAPJGol and first author of the study, highlights that “this model opens the door to a new line of action in primary care, where monitoring sedentary behaviour through wearable technology could become an effective strategy to detect new cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus early and implement personalised preventive measures.”
Study reference
Alòs F, Puig-Ribera A, Bort-Roig J, Chirveches-Pérez E, Berenguera A, Martin-Cantera C, Colomer MÀ. Incorporating sedentary behaviour for identifying risk of type 2 diabetes: Implications for primary care. Prim Care Diabetes. 2025 Jun;19(3):214-220. doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2025.03.001. Epub 2025 Mar 10. PMID: 40068985.
