Faculty Collaboration Database

Meaning of Illness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Educ 2016 Apr;42(2):220-7

Date

02/18/2016

Pubmed ID

26879460

DOI

10.1177/0145721716631430

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84961250452 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between meaning of illness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS: The sample population was recruited from primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. The meaning of illness was assessed by a validated questionnaire with 5 subscales. The primary outcomes were cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, assessed by A1C, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Multivariate linear regression models investigated associations between the clinical outcomes and the 5 MIQ factors, controlling for possible confounders.

RESULTS: The sample comprised 302 black and white participants of whom more than half were elderly (65+ years) and the vast majority were male (98%). Systolic blood pressure was positively associated with non-anticipated vulnerability. Diastolic blood pressure was negatively associated with degree of stress/change in commitments and positively associated with challenge/motivation/hope and non-anticipated vulnerability. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly and negatively associated with degree of stress/change in commitments.

CONCLUSIONS: Meaning of illness had a significant effect on measured outcomes of CVD risk. The specific factor included in the overarching concept of meaning of illness differed in its influence, with more positive views of stress/commitments associated with lower blood pressure and LDL but more positive views of the challenge/hope/motivation and negative views of non-anticipated vulnerability associated with diabetes associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Author List

Lynch CP, Strom Williams J, Voronca D, Walker RJ, Egede LE

Authors

Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rebekah Walker PhD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Joni Williams MD, MPH Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol, LDL
Cost of Illness
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Risk Factors
Southeastern United States
Stress, Psychological