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Health care access, hospitalization, family history associated with unawareness of diabetes status
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Adults with diagnosed and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes who received no health care for 1 year were more likely to be unaware of their disease status vs. those who had accessed care during the same period. Those who were hospitalized in the past year or those with a family history of diabetes were more likely to be aware of their diagnosis, according to published findings.
Andy Menke, PhD, an epidemiologist with Social & Scientific Systems in Silver Spring, Maryland, and colleagues analyzed data from 1,879 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes based on a single measurement of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose or 2-hour plasma glucose. Researchers used logistic regression analysis to calculate odds of being unaware of diabetes status associated with factors, including age, race, sex, family history of diabetes, health care access, health insurance status, hospitalization and hypertension. Overall, 34.3% of respondents were unaware of their diabetes status, according to the researchers.
After adjustment, those with a family history of diabetes were more likely to be aware of their disease status (all ORs for lack of awareness; OR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33-0.7), with higher odds of remaining unaware of diabetes status observed in women vs. men when stratified by sex (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32-0.88). Adults who reported receiving no health care in the past year had nearly six times higher odds of being unaware of their diabetes status (OR = 5.85; 95% CI, 2.39-14.34), with the odds increasing for women (OR = 7.03; 95% CI, 2.67-18.51). Those who reported being hospitalized in the past year were less likely to be unaware of their diabetes status (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-0.99).
Researchers found that race and age also played a role in disease awareness. Compared with adults aged 20 to 44 years, those aged 45 to 64 years were 24% more likely to be aware of their diabetes status after adjustment (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.51-1.13). Compared with white adults, Asians had 44% higher odds of being unaware (OR = 1.44; 95% CI, 0.82-2.54); Hispanics of non-Mexican descent had 30% higher odds (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.78-2.14).
“An improved understanding of which groups are more likely to be unaware of their diabetes may lead to more efficient screening, improved awareness and overall better treatment for diabetes,” the researchers wrote. – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supported this study. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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