Diabetes and prediabetes: screening and prevalence among adults with coronary heart disease

Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio and Glucose Metabolic States in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

This study investigated the relationship between fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and glucose metabolic state in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 52,062 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified according to FAR tertiles (T1: FAR < 0.0073; T2: 0.0073 ≤ FAR ≤ 0.0886; T3: FAR ≥ 0.0887). Patients were also classified into the normal glucose regulation (NGR) and elevated blood glucose (EBG) groups. The relationship between FAR and EBG was analyzed using logistic regression, and the association was evaluated according to sex and age. Among the participants, 32,471 (62.4%) had EBG, which was positively associated with FAR (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.23). The OR of the FAR for EBG in males was higher than that in females (1.25; 95% CI 1.18-1.33 vs 1.15; 95% CI 1.10-1.20). Moreover, the OR of FAR for EBG was greater in patients aged 60 or younger (OR: 1.25; 95% CI 1.18-1.33) than in the elderly patients (over 60 years of age) (OR: 1.15; 95% CI 1.10-1.20). The results indicated a significant relationship between FAR and EBG and this association was higher in males and middle-aged patients.

Impact of rurality on diabetes screening in the US

Background

Due to the high prevalence of diabetes risk factors in rural areas, it is important to identify whether differences in diabetes screening rates between rural and urban areas exist. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine if living in a rural area, rurality, has any influence on diabetes screening across the US.

Methods

Participants from the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 nationally representative Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys who responded to a question on diabetes screening were included in the study (n = 1,889,712). Two types of marginal probabilities, average adjusted predictions (AAPs) and average marginal effects (AMEs), were estimated at the national level using this data. AAPs and AMEs allow for the assessment of the independent role of rurality on diabetes screening while controlling for important covariates.

Results

People who lived in urban, suburban, and rural areas all had comparable odds (Urban compared to Rural Odds Ratio (OR): 1.01, Suburbans compared to Rural OR: 0.95, 0.94) and probabilities of diabetes screening (Urban AAP: 70.47%, Suburban AAPs: 69.31 and 69.05%, Rural AAP: 70.27%). Statistically significant differences in probability of diabetes screening were observed between residents in suburban areas and rural residents (AMEs: − 0.96% and − 1.22%) but not between urban and rural residents (AME: 0.20%).

Conclusions

While similar levels of diabetes screening were found in urban, suburban, and rural areas, there is arguably a need for increased diabetes screening in rural areas where the prevalence of diabetes risk factors is higher than in urban areas.

Abnormal glucose regulation in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: A cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD), and the association of AGR and acute coronary events in Chinese patients.A total of 3441 hospitalized patients with established diagnosis of CAD were recruited from 41 centers in 25 cities of China. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 2112 patients without known diabetes. Acute coronary events were recorded for the patients.AGR was detected in 1880 (89%) patients in the OGTT cohort, with 1265 (59.9%) diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance, 363 (17.2%) diagnosed with diabetes, and 30 (1.4%) diagnosed with isolated impaired fasting glucose. The overall proportion of patients diagnosed with diabetes increased from 30.7% (n = 930) at baseline to 42.6% (n = 1298) following the OGTT analysis. In total 85% (n = 3047) patients in the study was diagnosed with AGR. Multivariate analysis showed that AGR was independently associated with acute coronary events, after adjusting for the traditional risk factors including age, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.The prevalence of AGR is increasing in Chinese patients with CAD, as compared with previous report. AGR was independently associated with acute coronary events. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the benefit of intervening prediabetes in adult patients with CAD.

Increased cardiovascular disease, resource use, and costs before the clinical diagnosis of diabetes in veterans in the southeastern U.S

IMPORTANCE

Screening for diabetes might be more widespread if adverse associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD), resource use, and costs were known to occur earlier than conventional clinical diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adverse effects associated with diabetes begin prior to clinical diagnosis.

DESIGN

Veterans with diabetes were matched 1:2 with controls by follow-up, age, race/ethnicity, gender, and VA facility. CVD was obtained from ICD-9 codes, and resource use and costs from VA datasets.

SETTING

VA facilities in SC, GA, and AL.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with and without diagnosed diabetes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Diagnosed CVD, resource use, and costs.

RESULTS

In this study, the 2,062 diabetic patients and 4,124 controls were 63 years old on average, 99 % male, and 29 % black; BMI was 30.8 in diabetic patients vs. 27.8 in controls (p<0.001). CVD prevalence was higher and there were more outpatient visits in Year -4 before diagnosis through Year +4 after diagnosis among diabetic vs. control patients (all p<0.01); in Year -2, CVD prevalence was 31 % vs. 24 %, and outpatient visits were 22 vs. 19 per year, respectively. Total VA costs/year/veteran were higher in diabetic than control patients from Year -4 ($4,083 vs. $2,754) through Year +5 ($8,347 vs. $5,700) (p<0.003) for each, reflecting underlying increases in outpatient, inpatient, and pharmacy costs (p<0.05 for each). Regression analysis showed that diabetes contributed an average of $1,748/year to costs, independent of CVD (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

VA costs per veteran are higher--over $1,000/year before and $2,000/year after diagnosis of diabetes--due to underlying increases in outpatient, inpatient, and pharmacy costs, greater number of outpatient visits, and increased CVD. Moreover, adverse associations with veterans' health and the VA healthcare system occur early in the natural history of the disease, several years before diabetes is diagnosed. Since adverse associations begin before diabetes is recognized, greater consideration should be given to systematic screening in order to permit earlier detection and initiation of preventive management. Keeping frequency of CVD and marginal costs in line with those of patients before diabetes is currently diagnosed has the potential to save up to $2 billion a year.

Blood glucose screening rates among Minnesota adults with hypertension, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011

Introduction

Many US adults have multiple chronic conditions, and hypertension and diabetes are among the most common dyads. Diabetes and prediabetes prevalence are increasing, and both conditions negatively affect cardiovascular health. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and prediabetes can benefit people with hypertension by preventing cardiovascular complications.

Methods

We analyzed 2011 Minnesota Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to describe the proportion of adults with hypertension screened for diabetes according to US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations for blood glucose testing. Covariates associated with lower odds of recent screening among adults without diabetes were determined using weighted logistic regression.

Results

Of Minnesota adults with self-reported hypertension, 19.6% had a diagnosis of diabetes and 10.7% had a diagnosis of prediabetes. Nearly one-third of adults with hypertension without diabetes had not received blood glucose screening in the past 3 years. Factors associated with greater odds of not being screened in multivariable models included being aged 18 to 44 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–2.55); being nonobese, with stronger effects for normal body mass index; having no check-up in the past 2 years (AOR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.49–4.17); having hypertension treated with medication (AOR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.49–2.71); and completing less than a college degree (AOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.14–1.84). Excluding respondents with prediabetes or those not receiving a check-up did not change the results.

Conclusions

Failure to screen among providers and failure to understand the importance of screening among individuals with hypertension may mean missed opportunities for early detection, clinical management, and prevention of diabetes.

Diabetes in US women on the rise independent of increasing BMI and other risk factors; a trend investigation of serial cross-sections

BACKGROUND

The epidemic of diabetes continues leaving an enormous and growing burden of chronic disease to public health. This study investigates this growing burden of diabetes independent of increasing BMI in a large population based female sample, 2006-2010.

METHODS

Serial cross-sectional data using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2006-2010 surveys from 1,168,418 women. Diabetes was assessed by self-report of a physician diagnosis, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on self-reported height and weight.

RESULTS

Almost 60% of women responders had a BMI > 25 (defined as overweight or obese). Diabetes was reported in 16% of respondents whose BMI > 25, and in 4% of respondents with reported BMI ≤ 25. Overall, 11% of the women in this sample reported being diagnosed with diabetes, of whom 83% had a BMI > 25. BMI, physical activity, age, and race were each independently associated with diabetes (p-value < 0.05). The odds of reported diabetes increased each year independent of BMI, physical activity, age, and race.

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for age, race, physical activity, and year of survey response, results indicate a threefold increase in diabetes among respondents with a BMI > 25 (OR = 3.57; 95% CI = 3.52-3.63). Potentially more alarming was a notable increase in odds of diabetes across the years of study among women, implying a near 30 percent projected increase in odds of diabetes diagnoses by 2020. This is likely due to advances in diagnosis and treatment but also highlights a burden of disease that will have a growing and sustained impact on public health and healthcare systems.

Utility of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria for diabetes screening

BACKGROUND

Federal law requires certain private insurers to cover and waive patient cost sharing for preventive medical services that receive a grade of B or better from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF recommends that asymptomatic adults who have a blood pressure (BP) higher than 135/80 mmHg be screened for type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE

The goals of this study were to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the USPSTF screening criteria and to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidity among undiagnosed individuals by USPSTF criteria.

METHODS

Data come from 7189 adults who participated in the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; statistical analysis was conducted in 2011-2012. Participants with fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% who did not self-report a diagnosis of diabetes were categorized as having undiagnosed diabetes.

RESULTS

Among people without diagnosed diabetes, 4.0% had undiagnosed diabetes. The proportion of adults with undiagnosed diabetes who were identified (sensitivity) using BP >135/80 mmHg as the screening standard was 44.4%; among individuals without undiagnosed diabetes, 74.8% had BP ≤135/80 mmHg (specificity). For those with undiagnosed diabetes, the prevalence of HbA1c 7.0%-<8.0% was 10.6% for those with BP ≤135/80 mmHg and 14.3% for those with BP >135/80 mmHg; and 12.8% and 9.4% for HbA1c ≥8.0%, respectively. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (100-160 mg/dL) was similar by BP cut-point (52%-53%). For those with BP ≤135/80 mmHg, 16.7% had a history of cardiovascular disease and 22.9% had chronic kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The USPSTF screening recommendations result in missing more than half of those who have undiagnosed diabetes, and a substantial proportion of these people have increased low-density lipoprotein and other cardiovascular risk factors.