Social Inequalities in T2DM-Related Risk Patterns and Diabetes-Related Knowledge Among Hungarian Secondary School...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant public health challenge.
• Lifestyle factors influencing T2DM risk can emerge during adolescence.
• Socioeconomic status (SES), nutrition, physical activity, and diabetes knowledge are key early determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between SES, T2DM risk patterns (using adapted FINDRISC), and diabetes knowledge in Hungarian secondary students (16-20 years).
• To identify early indicators of T2DM risk and knowledge disparities linked to SES.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide cross-sectional survey of 1585 Hungarian Baptist secondary school students.
• SES classification via cluster analysis (parental education, occupation, household books, travel).
• T2DM risk assessment using an age-adapted FINDRISC screening tool and a 12-item knowledge questionnaire; statistical analysis using SPSS.

Main Results:

• 7.4% of students were in moderate or high adapted FINDRISC categories.
• Significant association between SES and adapted FINDRISC categories (p < 0.001); low-SES students had higher T2DM risk (OR=1.81).
• Significant association between SES and diabetes knowledge (p=0.015); high-SES students were more likely to have high knowledge (OR=0.62).

Conclusions:

• Social inequalities in T2DM risk and knowledge are evident in secondary students.
• The adapted FINDRISC tool can be a useful school-based screening framework for relative T2DM risk.
• Findings underscore the need for early interventions addressing SES-related health disparities in diabetes prevention.