Population-Level Distribution of PRISQ Scores among adults accessing primary care services in the state of Qatar

Background: Prediabetes is a critical intermediate stage in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is increasingly prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Qatar, high levels of metabolic and lifestyle-related risk factors underscore the need for scalable, non-invasive risk stratification tools within primary care. The Prediabetes Risk Score in Qatar (PRISQ) was developed as a population-specific screening tool; however, its distribution and associated risk patterns within national primary care settings remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to assess the population-level distribution of PRISQ scores among adults attending primary care in Qatar and to identify key sociodemographic and clinical correlates of elevated prediabetes risk. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among adults ([≥]18 years) registered with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), using data derived from the HEALTHSIGHT study. PRISQ scores were calculated based on five non-invasive clinical parameters: age, sex, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Participants were categorized into low, moderate, and high-risk groups using established PRISQ cut-offs. Descriptive analyses summarized risk distributions, and multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of PRISQ scores. Results: Among 1,116 participants included in the final analysis, the mean PRISQ score was 26.5 +/- 11.0. Nearly half of the study population (47.7%) was classified as high risk for prediabetes, while 34.4% and 17.9% were categorized as moderate and low risk, respectively. Increasing age was the strongest contributor to higher PRISQ scores, followed by body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure (all p < 0.001). High-risk individuals were more frequently male, older, overweight or obese, and long-term residents of Qatar, with variation across nationality groups. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of adults attending primary care in Qatar are at high predicted risk for prediabetes. These findings support the utility of PRISQ as a risk stratification and engagement tool in primary care to guide early lifestyle counselling and targeted preventive interventions. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess progression to dysglycemia and to further refine risk-based screening strategies.