Receipt of monitoring of diabetes mellitus in older adults with comorbid dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012 Apr;60(4):644-51
Date
03/21/2012Pubmed ID
22428535Pubmed Central ID
PMC3325373DOI
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03907.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-84862793456 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 41 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent to which receipt of recommended monitoring of diabetes mellitus (DM) differed for participants with and without comorbid dementia, as well as the effect of other comorbidities on monitoring of DM in individuals with comorbid dementia.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.
SETTING: Secondary analysis of 2005/2006 claims and enrollment data for a 5% national random sample of Medicare beneficiaries.
PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighty-eight thousand eight hundred five Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with a diagnosis of DM before 2006, 44,717 (16%) of whom had evidence of comorbid dementia in claims.
MEASUREMENTS: Established algorithms were used to determine whether patients received at least one glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test, one low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) test, and one annual eye examination in 2006 and to construct variables representing comorbidities common in DM, sociodemographic characteristics, and patterns of healthcare utilization.
RESULTS: In unadjusted and fully adjusted models, the presence of dementia reduced the likelihood of receiving HbA1c tests, LDL-C tests, and eye examinations, with effects being smallest for HbA1c tests. The effects of other comorbidities on DM monitoring in participants with dementia varied according to the nature of the comorbidity and the specific test.
CONCLUSION: Dementia reduces the likelihood that individuals with DM will receive recommended annual monitoring for DM. More research is needed to understand reasons for lower monitoring in this subgroup and how this affects functioning, adverse events, and quality of life.
Author List
Thorpe CT, Thorpe JM, Kind AJ, Bartels CM, Everett CM, Smith MAAuthor
Christine M. Everett PhD, PAC Chief, Director, Professor in the Health Sciences Education department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAged, 80 and over
Algorithms
Dementia
Diabetes Mellitus
Diagnostic Services
Fee-for-Service Plans
Female
Humans
Male
Medicare
Quality Assurance, Health Care
Retrospective Studies
United States
