Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diabetes Control
Author Information
Author(s): Joanne E. Wilkinson, Larry Culpepper
Primary Institution: Boston University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Is glycemic control associated with colorectal cancer screening rates in people with diabetes?
Conclusion
Poor glycemic control is linked to lower rates of colorectal cancer screening in people with diabetes.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with poor glycemic control were more likely not to have been screened for colorectal cancer.
- Patients with fewer than 20 primary care visits in 5 years were more likely not to have been screened.
- Colorectal cancer screening rates were overall 38% in the study population.
Takeaway
People with diabetes who have high blood sugar levels are less likely to get checked for colon cancer. This means they might need more help to get screened.
Methodology
The study analyzed electronic medical records of over 6,000 diabetes patients aged 50 and older to compare screening rates based on glycemic control.
Potential Biases
The data came from a single urban hospital, which may limit generalizability to other settings.
Limitations
The study could not reliably obtain data on several variables of interest, such as years since diabetes diagnosis and physician recommendations for screening.
Participant Demographics
The study population was 58% female, 57% black, and 14% Latino.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
1.38-1.77
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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