BRinging the Diabetes Prevention Program to GEriatric Populations (BRIDGE)

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Over 24 million Americans are ≥65 years and have prediabetes. Prediabetes can be addressed using a
public health approach: among the 20% of participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) who were
ages 60 and over, the diet and physical activity intervention conferred a 71% risk reduction of diabetes after an
average follow-up of 3 years. The population of older adults is projected to more than double from 52.5 million
in 2019 to ~100 million by 2060, and if projections hold, about half (48.3%) will have prediabetes. The
proposed study will compare a DPP program Tailored for Older Adults and delivered via Telehealth (DPP-TOAT
arm) to an in person DPP tailored for older adults (DPP arm) using a randomized, controlled trial design
(n=230). Our preliminary data suggests DPP-TOAT is a feasible and acceptable way to deliver the DPP to
older adults, and this will be the first study to compare the effectiveness and implementation of two strategies
(telehealth versus in-person) to deliver a tailored DPP for the unique needs of the growing population of older
adults. Eligible patients will be recruited through electronic health records (Epic and MyChart) and randomized
to the 12-month DPP-TOAT or the in-person DPP program. The primary effectiveness outcome will be 6-month
weight loss and implementation outcome will be attendance. We will use a pragmatic approach in order to
inform future studies conducted in community-based and rural settings. Findings will inform best practices in
the delivery of an evidence-based intervention that could reach the 24+ million adults aged 65 and over with
prediabetes.

Grant Number: 5R01DK127916-04
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Jeannette Beasley