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Improvements in risk factor control among persons with diabetes in the United States: Evidence and implications for remaining life expectancy
Hoerger, T., Zhang, P., Segel, J., Gregg, EW., Venkat Narayan, KM., & Hicks, K. (2009). Improvements in risk factor control among persons with diabetes in the United States: Evidence and implications for remaining life expectancy. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 86(3), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2009.09.017
AIMS: To examine whether A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol values changed for U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes between 1988-1994 and 2005-2006. We then project the impact of these changes on life expectancy and diabetes-related complications. METHODS: We estimated changes in hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and total cholesterol between 1988-1994 and 2005-2006 using regression analysis and data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We projected the potential effects on life expectancy and complications using the CDC-RTI Diabetes Cost-Effectiveness Model. RESULTS: A1c fell by 0.68 percentage points (P=0.001) among U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes. Among those with diabetes and hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell by 5.66 and 8.15mmHg, respectively (P=0.005 and P=0.001). Among those with diabetes and high cholesterol, total cholesterol fell by 36.41mg/dL (P=0.001). These improvements were projected to increase life expectancy for persons with newly diagnosed diabetes by 1.0 year. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factor control has improved in the United States. Persons newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2005 have a better prognosis than persons diagnosed with diabetes 11 years earlier.