Predicting the risk of diabetes complications using machine learning and social administrative data in a country with ethnic inequities in health: Aotearoa New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: In the age of big data, linked social and administrative health data in combination with machine learning (ML) is being increasingly used to improve prediction in chronic disease, e.g., cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this study we aimed to apply ML methods on extensive national-level health and social administrative datasets to assess the utility of these for predicting future diabetes complications, including by ethnicity. METHODS: Five ML models were used to predict CVD events among all people with known diabetes in the population of New Zealand, utilizing nationwide individual-level administrative data. RESULTS: The Xgboost ML model had the best predictive power for predicting CVD events three years into the future among the population with diabetes (N = 145,600). The optimization procedure also found limited improvement in prediction by ethnicity (using area under the receiver operating curve, [AUC]). The results indicated no trade-off between model predictive performance and equity gap of prediction by ethnicity (that is improving model prediction and reducing performance gaps by ethnicity can be achieved simultaneously). The list of variables of importance was different among different models/ethnic groups, for example: age, deprivation (neighborhood-level), having had a hospitalization event, and the number of years living with diabetes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We provide further evidence that ML with administrative health data can be used for meaningful future prediction of health outcomes. As such, it could be utilized to inform health planning and healthcare resource allocation for diabetes management and the prevention of CVD events. Our results may suggest limited scope for developing prediction models by ethnic group and that the major ways to reduce inequitable health outcomes is probably via improved delivery of prevention and management to those groups with diabetes at highest need.

Racial health disparities: a population-based analysis of physical activity and diabetes-related complications in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: Racial disparity in physical activity in people with diabetes in Brazil remains scarcely investigated. We examined the association between physical activity and diabetes-related complications according to race in the Brazilian population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2019 National Health Survey, a population-based survey of Brazilian adults. We used a self-reported questionnaire to assess physical activity during commuting, leisure-time, domestic, and occupational activities. Diabetes-related complications included vision, kidney, and circulatory impairment, foot ulcers, diabetic coma, and all-cause complications. We used robust Poisson regression models with restricted cubic splines to examine the association between physical activity and diabetes-related complications. RESULTS: We included 2529 adults with diabetes (48.9% women; mean age: 53.5 ± 11.9 years). One-third experienced diabetes-related complications. Black adults performed less leisure-time and more occupational and commuting physical activity than White participants. Black participants showed a higher probability of all-cause (1.61; 95%CI: 1.29, 2.02) and vision complications (1.58; 95%CI: 1.23, 2.04) compared to White participants independent of physical activity status. Only leisure-time physical activity was associated with a reduced probability of all-cause complications (PR: 0.78; 0.71, 0.86) whereas commuting and occupational physical activity were not associated with any diabetes-related complications. Physically inactive, Brown adults showed a higher probability of kidney, circulatory, vision, and all-cause complications than active, White adults. However, physical activity attenuated the probability of these complications in Brown participants. CONCLUSION: The association between physical activity and diabetes-related complications is domain-specific. We revealed a racial disparity in physical activity in people with diabetes in Brazil.

Living well with diabetes in Alaska.

Many people with diabetes mellitus experience minimal or no complications. Our objective was to determine the proportion of Alaska Native people who experienced four major complications or mortality and to identify factors that may be associated with these outcomes. We used records in a diabetes registry and clinical and demographic variables in our analyses. We used logistic regression and Cox Proportional Hazards models to evaluate associations of these parameters with death and complications that occurred prior to 2013. The study included 591 Alaska Native people with non-type 1 diabetes mellitus, diagnosed between 1986 and 1992. Over 60% of people in this study remained free of four major diabetes-related complications for the remainder of life or throughout the approximately 20-year study period. Lower BMI, higher age at diagnosis of diabetes, and use of at least one diabetes medication were associated with death and a composite of four complications. A majority of Alaska Native people with DM had none of four major complications over a 20-year period. Lower BMI and use of diabetes medications were associated with higher hazard for some deleterious outcomes. This suggests that goals in care of elders should be carefully individualised. In addition, we discuss several programme factors that we believe contributed to favourable outcomes.

The prevalence, incidence, and persistence of self-reported visual impairment among Chinese population with diabetes mellitus: evaluation from a nationally representative survey, 2015-2018.

Aims: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and persistence of visual impairment (VI) and their correlates among the Chinese population with diabetes mellitus (DM) over 3 years. Materials and methods: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey is the first nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Chinese population. A cross-sectional analysis of prevalent VI in 2015 consisted of 2,173 participants with DM. A longitudinal observation of incident and persistent VI consisted of 1,633 participants from 2015 to 2018. Risk factors of VI were identified via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Among our study population with DM, 11.8% reported VI in 2015, 4.5% had persistent VI from 2015 to 2018, and 8.9% developed VI in 2018. Factors identified to be correlated to VI (p < 0.05) were older age, being a woman, lower educational attainment, living in a rural area, application of DM medication and non-pharmacological treatment, receiving DM-related tests, use of spectacles, and poorer health status. Conclusion: This most recent national data provides a baseline for future public health initiatives on VI among the Chinese population with DM. With multiple risk factors identified, these could provide concurrent targets for various public health strategies and interventions with the aim of reducing the burden of VI among the population with DM in China.

Racial differences in all-cause mortality and future complications among people with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from more than 2.4 million individuals.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this work was to quantify racial/ethnic differences in risk for future diabetic complications and all-cause mortality by performing a meta-analysis of prospective studies. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed and EMBASE was performed from inception to May 2021. Prospective cohort studies that reported HRs and associated 95% CIs of diabetes complications and all-cause mortality among racial/ethnic groups, with White people as the reference group, were included. Study characteristics and HR estimates were extracted from each study. Estimates were pooled using random-effects inverse-variance model with the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman variance estimator. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies were included, comprising 2,416,516 individuals diagnosed with diabetes (White 59.3%, Black 11.2%, Asian 1.3%, Hispanic-American 2.4%, Native American 0.2%, East Asian 1.9%, South Asian 0.8%, Pacific Islander 2.3%, Maori 2.4% and others 18.2%). Compared with White individuals with diabetes, individuals of Maori ethnicity were at higher risk for all-cause mortality (HR 1.88 [95% CI 1.61, 2.21]; I2 = 7.1%), Hispanic-American individuals had a significantly lower risk for CVD (HR 0.66 [95% CI 0.53, 0.81]; I2 = 0%) and Black individuals had higher risk for end-stage renal disease (HR 1.54 [95% CI 1.05, 2.24]; I2 = 95.4%). No significant higher risk for diabetes complications was found in other racial/ethnic groups relative to White people. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Racial/ethnic differences exist in the risk for future diabetic complications and all-cause mortality. Our results support the use of such categories for international diabetes clinical guideline recommendations until better predictors become available. Efforts to identify high-risk groups and to better control cardiovascular risk factors across ethnically diverse populations are therefore needed. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration ID CRD42021239274.

Long-Term Complications in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing, but little is known regarding the occurrence of related complications as these youths transition to adulthood. METHODS: We previously conducted a multicenter clinical trial (from 2004 to 2011) to evaluate the effects of one of three treatments (metformin, metformin plus rosiglitazone, or metformin plus an intensive lifestyle intervention) on the time to loss of glycemic control in participants who had onset of type 2 diabetes in youth. After completion of the trial, participants were transitioned to metformin with or without insulin and were enrolled in an observational follow-up study (performed from 2011 to 2020), which was conducted in two phases; the results of this follow-up study are reported here. Assessments for diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and nerve disease were performed annually, and assessments for retinal disease were performed twice. Complications related to diabetes identified outside the study were confirmed and adjudicated. RESULTS: At the end of the second phase of the follow-up study (January 2020), the mean (±SD) age of the 500 participants who were included in the analyses was 26.4±2.8 years, and the mean time since the diagnosis of diabetes was 13.3±1.8 years. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 67.5%, the incidence of dyslipidemia was 51.6%, the incidence of diabetic kidney disease was 54.8%, and the incidence of nerve disease was 32.4%. The prevalence of retinal disease, including more advanced stages, was 13.7% in the period from 2010 to 2011 and 51.0% in the period from 2017 to 2018. At least one complication occurred in 60.1% of the participants, and at least two complications occurred in 28.4%. Risk factors for the development of complications included minority race or ethnic group, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. No adverse events were recorded during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants who had onset of type 2 diabetes in youth, the risk of complications, including microvascular complications, increased steadily over time and affected most participants by the time of young adulthood. Complications were more common among participants of minority race and ethnic group and among those with hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01364350 and NCT02310724.).

Diabetes-related lower extremity complications in a multi-ethnic Asian population: a 10 year observational study in Singapore.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Diabetes progression and complication risk are different in Asian people compared with those of European ancestry. In this study, we sought to understand the epidemiology of diabetes-related lower extremity complications (DRLECs: symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, ulceration, infection, gangrene) and amputations in a multi-ethnic Asian population. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study using data obtained from one of three integrated public healthcare clusters in Singapore. The population consisted of individuals with incident type 2 diabetes who were of Chinese, Malay, Indian or Other ethnicity. We examined incidence, time to event and risk factors of DRLECs and amputation. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2017, of the 156,593 individuals with incident type 2 diabetes, 20,744 developed a DRLEC, of whom 1208 underwent amputation. Age- and sex-standardised incidence of first DRLEC and first amputation was 28.29/1000 person-years of diabetes and 8.18/1000 person-years of DRLEC, respectively. Incidence of both was highest in individuals of Malay ethnicity (DRLEC, 36.09/1000 person-years of diabetes; amputation, 12.96/1000 person-years of DRLEC). Median time from diabetes diagnosis in the public healthcare system to first DRLEC was 30.5 months for those without subsequent amputation and 10.9 months for those with subsequent amputation. Median time from DRLEC to first amputation was 2.3 months. Older age (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), Malay ethnicity (p < 0.001), Indian ethnicity (p = 0.014), chronic comorbidities (nephropathy [p < 0.001], heart disease [p < 0.001], stroke [p < 0.001], retinopathy [p < 0.001], neuropathy [p < 0.001]), poorer or missing HbA1c (p < 0.001), lower (p < 0.001) or missing (p = 0.002) eGFR, greater or missing BMI (p < 0.001), missing LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) at diagnosis, and ever-smoking (p < 0.001) were associated with higher hazard of DRLEC. Retinopathy (p < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (p < 0.001), poorer HbA1c (p < 0.001), higher (p = 0.009) or missing (p < 0.001) LDL-cholesterol and missing BMI (p = 0.008) were associated with higher hazard of amputation in those with DRLEC. Indian ethnicity (p = 0.007) was associated with significantly lower hazard of amputation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study has revealed important ethnic differences in risk of diabetes-related lower limb complications, with Malays most likely to progress to DRLEC. Greater research efforts are needed to understand the aetiopathological and sociocultural processes that contribute to the higher risk of lower extremity complications among these ethnic groups.

High prevalence of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity and hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes and end stage renal disease hospitalized with COVID-19.

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with a high mortality rate among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. To the best of our knowledge, there is limited data on the clinical features, ethnicity, inpatient glycaemic control and outcomes in patients with diabetes related ESRD in the literature. We report the clinical features and outcomes of 39 consecutive ESRD patients (28 on haemodialysis [HD] and 11 with renal transplant) secondary to diabetic kidney disease admitted to a university hospital with COVID-19. We observed a high prevalence of patients of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity hospitalized with COVID-19 with a 73% and 54% prevalence in renal transplant and HD groups respectively. The mortality rate of our cohort was 36%. Nearly a one-third of HD patients and one-fifth of transplant patients had hypoglycaemic events during COVID-19 hospitalization. Adjustment of diabetes treatment was frequently required. Our data highlight the importance of integrated multidisciplinary care of patients with diabetes related ESRD hospitalized with COVID-19.

Effectiveness of the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Program for Yaquis with Obesity and Risk of Diabetes in the Short and Medium Term: A Translational Study.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a public health problem worldwide, and the main risk factor for its development is obesity. The Yaqui ethnic group of Sonora has serious obesity problems, resulting in an increased risk of T2D in its inhabitants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion program on obesity parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in short- (6 months) and medium-term periods (12 months) in indigenous Yaquis of Sonora. The design is a translational clinical study of a single cohort with prepost intervention measurements in a sample of 93 subjects. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by comparing obesity parameters, metabolic markers, and physical activity 6 and 12 months with those measured under basal conditions using a paired t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The short-term retention percentage was 58.0%. There was a decrease in body weight (Δ = -3.9 kg, p ≤ 0.05) and other obesity parameters, and an increase in physical activity and improvements in metabolic markers (p ≤ 0.05) was observed. Similar findings were obtained for the medium-term period; body weight loss was also -3.9 kg (p ≤ 0.05). The short and medium-term results of the program showed improvements in the obesity parameters and other cardiovascular risk factors of the participants. These results support the effectiveness of the program and its translation in this ethnic group.

Epidemiology and Risk of Amputation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) stems from atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries with resultant arterial narrowing or occlusion. The most severe form of PAD is termed chronic limb-threatening ischemia and carries a significant risk of limb loss and cardiovascular mortality. Diabetes mellitus is known to increase the incidence of PAD, accelerate disease progression, and increase disease severity. Patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus and PAD are at high risk for major complications, such as amputation. Despite a decrease in the overall number of amputations performed annually in the United States, amputation rates among those with both diabetes mellitus and PAD have remained stable or even increased in high-risk subgroups. Within this cohort, there is significant regional, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic variation in amputation risk. Specifically, residents of rural areas, African-American and Native American patients, and those of low socioeconomic status carry the highest risk of amputation. The burden of amputation is severe, with 5-year mortality rates exceeding those of many malignancies. Furthermore, caring for patients with PAD and diabetes mellitus imposes a significant cost to the healthcare system-estimated to range from $84 billion to $380 billion annually. Efforts to improve the quality of care for those with PAD and diabetes mellitus must focus on the subgroups at high risk for amputation and the disparities they face in the receipt of both preventive and interventional cardiovascular care. Better understanding of these social, economic, and structural barriers will prove to be crucial for cardiovascular physicians striving to better care for patients facing this challenging combination of chronic diseases.

Risk of Corneal Ulcer in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Large-Scale Cohort Study.

This nationwide, retrospective, matched cohort study was designed to investigate the risk of corneal ulcer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). It included 238,701 patients with DM, recruited between 2003 and 2005 from the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients database. The control group included the same number of age- and sex-matched non-DM patients selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, 2000. The data of each patient were collected from the index date until December 2013. The incidence of corneal ulcer was compared between the two groups. In total, 2,549 patients with DM and 1,988 controls developed corneal ulcer during the follow-up period, resulting in an incidence rate for corneal ulcers that was 1.27 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20-1.35; P < 0.001) higher in patients with DM than in controls. After adjustment for potential confounders, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal disease, patients with DM were 1.31 times (95% CI, 1.24-1.40; P < 0.05) more likely than the cohort to develop corneal ulcers. In conclusion, this study shows that DM increases the risk of corneal ulcer. Therefore, close collaboration between ophthalmologists and endocrinologists is important to ensure timely ophthalmology visits.

Diabetes, Cognitive Decline, and Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging Results (HCHS/SOL).

OBJECTIVE: Hispanics/Latinos are the largest ethnic/racial group in the U.S., have the highest prevalence of diabetes, and are at increased risk for neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, little is known about the relationship between diabetes and cognitive decline and disorders among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. The purpose of this study is to clarify these relationships in diverse middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) is an ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). HCHS/SOL is a multisite (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA), probability-sampled (i.e., representative of targeted populations), and prospective cohort study. Between 2016 and 2018, SOL-INCA enrolled diverse Hispanics/Latinos aged ≥50 years (n = 6,377). Global cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: Prevalent diabetes at visit 1, but not incident diabetes at visit 2, was associated with significantly steeper global cognitive decline (ßGC = -0.16 [95% CI -0.25; -0.07]; P < 0.001), domain-specific cognitive decline, and higher odds of MCI (odds ratio 1.74 [95% CI 1.34; 2.26]; P < 0.001) compared with no diabetes in age- and sex-adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was associated with cognitive decline and increased MCI prevalence among diverse Hispanics/Latinos, primarily among those with prevalent diabetes at visit 1. Our findings suggest that significant cognitive decline and MCI may be considered additional disease complications of diabetes among diverse middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

The impact of diabetes on the association between alcohol intake and the risk of end-stage kidney disease in the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between alcohol intake and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) risk is controversial. Moreover, while evidence has shown that the relationship between alcohol and atherosclerosis may be modified by diabetes, whether this applies to ESKD is unknown. METHODS: We examined these associations in the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort of 63 257 adults aged 45 to 74 years. Information on alcohol intake, diet, lifestyle factors, and medical history was collected at recruitment. We identified 1217 ESKD cases via linkage with the Singapore Renal Registry after a mean follow-up of 17.5 years. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI of ESKD. RESULTS: Among the participants without diabetes at baseline, monthly to weekly drinking was associated with a decreased risk of ESKD (HR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.87) compared to nondrinkers. In contrast, this association was attenuated and not significant among those with diabetes (HR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.58-1.16; Pinteraction = .19). Comparatively, alcohol intake of ≥2 drinks per day was significantly associated with an increased risk of ESKD compared to nondrinkers among those with diabetes (HR 2.00; 95% CI, 1.14-3.53) but not among those without diabetes (HR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.53-1.56; Pinteraction = .01). The risk of ESKD among those with diabetes and who also consumed ≥2 drinks per day was increased by nearly 12-fold compared to nondrinkers without diabetes (HR 11.6; 95% CI, 6.73-19.9). CONCLUSION: Low-dose drinking is associated with a reduced risk of ESKD among individuals without diabetes. However, joint exposure to heavy drinking and diabetes is associated with a substantially higher risk of ESKD.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in 30-Day Hospital Readmissions Among US Adults With Diabetes.

Importance: Differences in readmission rates among racial and ethnic minorities have been reported, but data among people with diabetes are lacking despite the high burden of diabetes and its complications in these populations. Objectives: To examine racial/ethnic differences in all-cause readmission among US adults with diabetes and categorize patient- and system-level factors associated with these differences. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study includes 272 758 adult patients with diabetes, discharged alive from the hospital between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, and stratified by race/ethnicity. An administrative claims data set of commercially insured and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries across the United States was used. Data analysis took place between October 2016 and February 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Unplanned all-cause readmission within 30 days of discharge and individual-, clinical-, economic-, index hospitalization-, and hospital-level risk factors for readmission. Results: A total of 467 324 index hospitalizations among 272 758 adults with diabetes (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [12.7]; 143 498 [52.6%] women) were examined. The rates of 30-day all-cause readmission were 10.2% (33 683 of 329 264) among white individuals, 12.2% (11 014 of 89 989) among black individuals, 10.9% (4151 of 38 137) among Hispanic individuals, and 9.9% (980 of 9934) among Asian individuals (P < .001). After adjustment for all factors, only black patients had a higher risk of readmission compared with white patients (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08). This increased readmission risk among black patients was sequentially attenuated, but not entirely explained, by other demographic factors, comorbidities, income, reason for index hospitalization, or place of hospitalization. Compared with white patients, both black and Hispanic patients had the highest observed-to-expected (OE) readmission rate ratio when their income was low (annual household income <$40 000 among black patients: OE ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.09-1.14; among Hispanic patients: OE ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.07-1.16) and when they were hospitalized in nonprofit hospitals (black patients: OE ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08-1.12; among Hispanic patients: OE ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.12), academic hospitals (black patients: OE ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.13-1.20; Hispanic patients: OE ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06-1.19), or large hospitals (ie, with ≥400 beds; black patients: OE ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.09-1.14; Hispanic patients: OE ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.14). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, black patients with diabetes had a significantly higher risk of readmission than members of other racial/ethnic groups. This increased risk was most pronounced among lower-income patients hospitalized in nonprofit, academic, or large hospitals. These findings reinforce the importance of identifying and addressing the many reasons for persistent racial/ethnic differences in health care quality and outcomes.

Age Disparities Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Rates of Hospital Use and Diabetic Complications.

INTRODUCTION: Although screening for diabetes is recommended at age 45, some populations may be at greater risk at earlier ages. Our objective was to quantify age disparities among patients with type 2 diabetes in New York City. METHODS: Using all-payer hospital claims data for New York City, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes identified from emergency department visits during the 5-year period 2011-2015. We estimated type 2 diabetes prevalence at each year of life, the age distribution of patients stratified by decade, and the average age of patients by sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic location. RESULTS: We identified 576,306 unique patients with type 2 diabetes. These patients represented more than half of all people with type 2 diabetes in New York City. Patients in racial/ethnic minority groups were on average 5.5 to 8.4 years younger than non-Hispanic white patients. At age 45, type 2 diabetes prevalence was 10.9% among non-Hispanic black patients and 5.2% among non-Hispanic white patients. In our geospatial analyses, patients with type 2 diabetes were on average 6 years younger in hotspots of diabetes-related emergency department use and inpatient hospitalizations. The average age of patients with type 2 diabetes was also 1 to 2 years younger in hotspots of microvascular diabetic complications. CONCLUSION: We identified profound age disparities among patients with type 2 diabetes in racial/ethnic minority groups and in neighborhoods with poor health outcomes. The younger age of these patients may be due to earlier onset of diabetes and/or earlier death from diabetic complications. Our findings demonstrate the need for geographically targeted interventions that promote earlier diagnosis and better glycemic control.

Ethnicity and Diabetic Quality-of-Life.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have addressed ethnic diabetes mellitus (diabetes) care inequalities. But few have assessed whether ethnicity influences patient perceptions of diabetic quality-of-life (QOL). The authors therefore designed a cross-sectional study to quantify the overall QOL associated with diabetes in consecutive white (Caucasian) and black (African-American) participants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A validated, time tradeoff utility instrument was consecutively administered by interview to 518 white and 92 African-American, adult, diabetic participants in an ambulatory setting. The instrument calculates QOL by quantifying a utility associated with their condition, with utility anchors of 1.00 (perfect health for that condition permanently) and 0.00 (death). Utility acquisition as used herein, first requires asking participants to estimate their theoretical remaining time of life, then subtracting from 1.00 the maximum proportion of their estimated remaining time of life they would be willing to hypothetically trade-if any-to permanently cure their condition (diabetes). Thus, a diabetic participant estimating 20 remaining years of life who will theoretically trade 3 of those years to cure their diabetes, has a diabetes-associated utility of [1.00 - (3/20) =)] 0.85. The closer the utility is to 1.00, the better the QOL associated with a condition, while the closer it is to 0.00, the poorer the associated QOL. RESULTS: The mean diabetes utility (QOL) for the white, diabetic participant cohort was 0.87, while that for the black cohort was 0.86 (P = 0.95). The ethnic cohorts were matched for age (P = 0.70), sex (P = 0.64), level of education (P = 0.29), known years of having diabetes (P = 0.10), insulin use (P = 0.23), type of diabetes (P = 0.27) and the number of associated comorbidities (P = 0.23). There was no difference between the cohorts for the presence and severity of the individual, diabetes-related comorbidities of retinopathy (P = 0.15), nephropathy (P = 0.24), neuropathy (P = 0.52), depression (P = 0.23) and heart disease (P = 0.32). Multiple linear regression integrating both cohorts revealed no effect of ethnicity upon diabetes utility (P = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes-related QOL was similar in matched cohorts of adult white and black participants with diabetes mellitus. This study suggests utilities for diabetes mellitus can be used in economic analyses without adjustment for white and black ethnicity.

Ethnicity and Type 2 diabetes in the UK.

Type 2 diabetes is a major UK public health priority. Among minority ethnic communities, the prevalence is alarmingly high, approximately three to five times higher than in the white British population. Particularly striking is the earlier onset of Type 2 diabetes, which occurs some 10-12 years younger, with a significant proportion of cases being diagnosed before the age of 40 years. This review focuses on the UK context and Type 2 diabetes in adult populations, exploring the available evidence regarding the complex interplay of biological, lifestyle, social, clinical and healthcare system factors that are known to drive these disparities.

Racial Disparities in the Cardiac Computed Tomography Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease: Does Gender Matter.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) represents a significant healthcare burden in terms of hospital resources, morbidity, and mortality. Primary prevention and early detection of risk factors for the development of CHD are pivotal to successful intervention programs and prognostication. Yet, there remains a paucity of evidence regarding differences in the assessment of these risk factors and the tools of assessment among different ethnicities. We conducted a narrative review to assess the utility of cardiac computed tomography, particularly coronary artery calcification (CAC), in different ethnicities. We also looked to see whether age, sex, comorbidities, and genetic background have peculiar influences on CAC. In this review, we highlight some of the pivotal studies regarding the question of CAC in relation to the development of CHD among different ethnicities. We identify several key trends in the literature showing that although African Americans have high rates of CHD, their risk of CAC may be relatively lower compared with other ethnicities. Similarly, South Asian patients may be at a high risk for adverse cardiac events due to elevated CAC. We also note that several studies are limited by small sample size and were based on 1 large cohort study. Future studies should include a large international prospective cohort to truly evaluate the effects of ethnicity on CAC and CHD risk. To appropriately apply CAC in the clinical practice, the variations in its scoring based on a subject's age, sex, comorbidity, and ethnicity should be addressed and interpreted beforehand.