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Disparities in Hemoglobin A1c Testing During the Transition to Adulthood and Association With Diabetes Outcomes in Youth-Onset Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

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posted on 2021-08-10, 19:22 authored by Katherine A Sauder, Jeanette M Stafford, Shelley Ehrlich, Jean M Lawrence, Angela D Liese, Santica Marcovina, Amy K Mottl, Catherine Pihoker, Sharon Saydah, Amy S Shah, Ralph B. D’Agostino Jr, Dana Dabelea, the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study Group
Objective

To identify correlates of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing frequency and associations with HbA1c levels and microvascular complications in youth-onset diabetes.

Research Design and Methods

The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study collected data from individuals diagnosed with diabetes before age 20 at 8 years diabetes duration (n=1,885 type 1, n=230 type 2) and 13 years duration (n=649 type 1, n=84 type 2). We identified correlates of reporting ≥3 HbA1c tests/year using logistic regression. We examined associations of HbA1c testing with HbA1c levels and microvascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, or nephropathy) using sequentially adjusted linear and logistic regression.

Results

For type 1 diabetes, odds of reporting ≥3 HbA1c tests/year at 8 and 13 years diabetes duration decreased with older age at diagnosis (OR 0.91 [95%CI 0.88-0.95]), longer duration of diabetes (OR 0.90 [0.82-0.99]), not having a personal doctor (0.44 [0.30-0.65]), and lapses in health insurance (OR 0.51 [0.27-0.96]). HbA1c testing ≥3 times/year over time was associated with lower HbA1c levels (-0.36% [-0.65 to -0.06]) and lower odds of microvascular complications (OR 0.64 [0.43-0.97]) at 13 years duration, but associations were attenuated after adjustment for HbA1c testing correlates (-0.17 [-0.46 to 0.13]); OR 0.70 [0.46-1.07], respectively). For type 2 diabetes, not seeing an endocrinologist decreased odds of reporting ≥3 HbA1c tests/year over time (OR 0.19 [0.06-0.63]), but HbA1c testing frequency was not associated with HbA1c levels or microvascular complications.

Conclusions

We observed disparities in HbA1c testing frequency, predominately by healthcare-related factors, which were associated with diabetes outcomes in type 1 diabetes.

Funding

Grant Support (SEARCH 1, 2, 3): SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PA numbers 00097, DP-05-069, and DP-10-001) and supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Grant Support (SEARCH 4): The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort Study (1UC4DK108173) is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Population Based Registry of Diabetes in Youth Study (1U18DP006131, U18DP006133, U18DP006134, U18DP006136, U18DP006138, U18DP006139) is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Sites (SEARCH 1 through 4): Kaiser Permanente Southern California (U18DP006133, U48/CCU919219, U01 DP000246, and U18DP002714), University of Colorado Denver (U18DP006139, U48/CCU819241-3, U01 DP000247, and U18DP000247-06A1), Cincinnati's Children's Hospital Medical Center (U18DP006134, U48/CCU519239, U01 DP000248, and 1U18DP002709), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (U18DP006138, U48/CCU419249, U01 DP000254, and U18DP002708), Seattle Children's Hospital (U18DP006136, U58/CCU019235-4, U01 DP000244, and U18DP002710-01), Wake Forest University School of Medicine (U18DP006131, U48/CCU919219, U01 DP000250, and 200-2010-35171)

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