health
Diabetes testing drops among poor and minority adults
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 18, 2011
The number of poor adults being tested for diabetes complications such as diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy and vascular and kidney disease is declining nationwide, according to data released March 30 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Between 2002 and 2007, annual examinations for blood glucose levels, dilated eyes and foot problems among low-income diabetes patients 40 and older dropped from 39% to 23%.
The three tests for middle-income adults in the same age group dropped 41% to 33% during the five-year period. Tests for high-income adults remained stable at 52%.
Prevalence of the tests dropped from 43% in 2002 to 32% in 2007 among blacks, 34% to 27% among Hispanics and 43% to 39% among whites. In inner cities, incidence of the tests fell from 45% to 33%, regardless of race or ethnicity, according to the data from AHRQ's 2010 National Healthcare Disparities report (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/04/18/hlbf0418.htm.
