Diabetes Screening with Hemoglobin A1c Before New Guidelines
Author Information
Author(s): Michelle Greiver, Babak Aliarzadeh, Rahim Moineddin, Christopher Meaney, Noah Ivers
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and clinical context of hemoglobin A1c tests done for non-diabetic primary care patients prior to new guidelines?
Conclusion
A significant proportion of non-diabetic patients had hemoglobin A1c tests before the new guidelines recommended them, indicating appropriate utilization based on risk factors.
Supporting Evidence
- 14.2% of non-diabetic adults had at least one Hgb A1c test done.
- The proportion of non-diabetic patients with an A1c test increased from 5.2% in 2007 to 8.8% in 2009.
- Patients aged 45 and over had a higher rate of testing at 20.2%.
- Factors like age, BMI, and hypertension were associated with higher odds of being screened.
Takeaway
Doctors were checking blood sugar levels in many patients who didn't have diabetes even before new rules said they should.
Methodology
A retrospective study using electronic medical records from community-based family physicians in Toronto.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to missing data in electronic medical records and the exclusion of certain patient groups.
Limitations
Results may not be applicable to other settings or EMRs, and the criteria for determining diabetes status may not be formally validated.
Participant Demographics
Participants were non-diabetic adults aged 19 and over, with a focus on those aged 45 and older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 13.6%-14.9%
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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