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190 users received wrong results from diabetes risk assessment tool: HPB

SINGAPORE – A software error in the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) recently-launched Diabetes Risk Assessment (DRA) tool has led to erroneous findings for about 190 of 33,000 users who completed the free assessment.

Some 190 users who completed the Health Promotion Boards diabetes risk assessment tool received an erroneous “not at risk” result due to a software error. Photo: Esther Leong/TODAY

Some 190 users who completed the Health Promotion Boards diabetes risk assessment tool received an erroneous “not at risk” result due to a software error. Photo: Esther Leong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE – A software error in the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) recently-launched Diabetes Risk Assessment (DRA) tool has led to erroneous findings for about 190 of 33,000 users who completed the free assessment.

The 190 affected users received a wrong Body Mass Index risk score, which in turn resulted in a “not at risk” of diabetes result, said the HPB in a media statement on Friday (Sept 22).

The error was rectified on Wednesday at 1pm, said the agency, which has also been contacting affected users who provided their contact details to advise them to retake the assessment.

Other users concerned about their results are encouraged to retake the free online tool which was launched on Sept 1.

Adding that it has performed further refinements to the tool, the HPB also said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The tool (letsbeatdiabetes.sg/dra), first announced in March at the Health Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate, consists of seven questions that takes two minutes to answer. Available free online, it is targeted at those aged 18 to 39 to get more Singaporeans-at-risk to screen for diabetes, but can be used by anyone.

Questions asked include the amount of time spent on physical activities in a week and how often an individual consumes sugary beverages such as fruit juice, coffee and bubble tea.

Singaporeans found to be at risk of diabetes through the tool can claim a heavily-subsidised S$5 diabetes screening and one follow-up consultation, if needed, at any general practitioner clinic on the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas).

Earlier in the week, the HPB said on Tuesday that some 15,000 citizens have used the tool since its roll-out on Sept 1, and 4 per cent of them have received letters inviting them to go for subsidised screenings.

Over 440,000 Singaporeans are estimated to have diabetes and one-third of them may not know they have the condition, which can lead to kidney failure, stroke and heart attacks.

If current trends continue, one million people here could have diabetes by 2050.

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