The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) Program: a web-based program to translate evidence to clinical practice in Type 2 diabetes

Aims The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) Program is the first web-based program incorporating a comprehensive risk engine, care protocols, clinical decision and self-management support to improve ambulatory diabetes care. The aim was to validate the risk stratification system of the JADE Program using a large prospective cohort. Methods The JADE interactive risk engine stratifies patients into different risk levels using results from an annual comprehensive assessment of complications and risk factors. We used a prospective registry consisting of 7534 Type 2 diabetic patients [45.6% men, median (range) age 57 years (13-92)] to perform internal validation of the risk engine. Results The JADE Risk Engine categorized patients into four risk levels (from low to high): level 1, n = 4520 (6%); level 2, n = 1468 (19.5%); level 3, n = 4476 (59.4%); and level 4, n = 1138 (15.1%). After a median follow-up period of 5.5 years (mean +/- sd 5.4 +/- 2.81 years), 763 (10.1%) died, 1129 (14.9%) developed cardiovascular disease (CVD), 282 (3.7%) developed end-stage renal disease and 1400 (18.6%) had at least one of these events. Compared with risk level 1, levels 2, 3 and 4 were associated with 2.8-, 4.7- and 8.6-fold increased risk of clinical end-points. Risk levels 3 and 4 were, respectively, associated with 2.2- and 3.9-fold increased risk for all-cause death and 4.8- and 12.1-fold increased CVD risks. Conclusion Based on results from a comprehensive assessment, the JADE Risk Engine successfully categorizes patients into different risk levels to guide clinical management.