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Trends in prevalence of diabetes and diabetes medication use among African Americans in the United States, NHANES 1999-2012
The prevalence of diabetes in the US has been consistently increasing since 1980, and has remained higher among African Americans (AA). In contrast, whether or not use of diabetes medication in AA suggests the same increasing trends over time has not been reported. This study examines the trends in diabetes medication use among AA.
Methods:
Cross-sectional data of 10,602 AA subjects with information on diabetic status from NHANES 1999 to 2012 were analyzed. Weighted prevalence of diabetes and diabetes medication use were estimated for each data cycle and trends of these outcomes determined by strata of selected socio-demographic factors.
Results:
An increasing trend in the prevalence of diabetes, from 10.6% to 16.0% (p<0.0001) was observed among AA population across data cycles. When analyzed by categories, an increasing trend was observed for both sex (Male p=0.0164, Female p<0.0001); among population with poverty income ratio PIR >=1 (p<0.0001); and for both educational levels (<=High school p=0.0005, >High School p=0.0007). In contrast, trends in medication use did not suggest an increasing pattern in overall and for most of the categories listed above. Strikingly, a decreasing trend (p=0.0316) in medication was observed for <= high school education (from 92% to 84%), and slightly decreasing trend (p=0.0526) for male (from 83% to 80%).
Conclusion:
The flat trend in medication use for diabetes suggests inadequate treatment of AA diabetic patients, particularly in males and those with lower educational status. Up-trending public health measures and treatment patterns are expected to prevent diabetes-related adverse outcomes among AA.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionEpidemiology
Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Explain the trends of diabetes prevalence among African American population from year 1999 to 2012 using NHANES data.
Compare the trends in prevalence of diabetes and diabetes medication use by socio-demographic status among African American population.
Identify priority sub-groups of African American population for policy actions aimed at reducing the disparities in diabetes medication use.
Keyword(s): Diabetes, African American
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Doctoral student of Epidemiology at East Tennessee State University. I have experience of analyzing the national level data. This abstract is the product of one of the research project conducted under one of my courses. Among my research interests are the health disparities among African American population of United States.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.