Factors associated with undiagnosed type II diabetes mellitus, undiagnosed impaired fasting glucose and these patients' quality of life in Lebanon.

Objective: To assess the association between undiagnosed impaired fasting glucose (UIFG) and diabetes (UD), their risk factors and the patients' knowledge about diabetes and their quality of life (QOL).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and September 2017 in four laboratories enrolling 495 patients. We used the Diabetes Knowledge and SF-12 questionnaires to assess the patients' knowledge about diabetes and QOL. This study meets the Wilson and Jungner criteria for disease screening.

Results: A higher knowledge score (ORa = 0.85) was significantly associated with the absence of diabetes compared to UPD, whereas an increased age (ORa = 1.2) and a positive family history of diabetes (ORa = 1.81) were significantly associated with higher odds of UPD. An increased knowledge score (ORa = 0.55) was significantly associated with an absence of diabetes compared to UD, whereas an increased BMI (ORa = 1.40) and an increased age (ORa = 1.07) were associated with increased odds of having UD.UD (Beta = -5.799) was significantly associated with decreased total physical component QOL score, whereas increased diabetes knowledge score (Beta = 0.415) was significantly associated with increased physical QOL. A higher diabetes knowledge score (Beta = 0.459) were associated with increased mental QOL.

Conclusion: Seeing the relatively high percentage of UD and UIFG, we propose that screening should be considered and subject to proper assessment in the light of the findings of this study.