Efficient early detection of prediabetes is critical in order to intervene and reduce conversion to T2DM since lifestyle interventions and/or metformin are proven to reduce progression. Retrospective data from a nationally-ranked tertiary academic medical center were analyzed to determine diagnosis rates, frequency of lifestyle and prescription interventions, and to assess characteristics of patients who were most likely to be clinically identified or treated.
Data from the EpicCare EMR were analyzed using the University of Kansas Medical Center i2b2-based clinical data repository (HERON). Data were collected for 69,781 patients established in academically affiliated primary care clinics between 2015 and 2017. After excluding for previous diabetes/prediabetes diagnoses or use of glucose lowering agents, 46,855 patients remained to assess for incident prediabetes (ADA criteria). Clinical recognition of the prediabetes diagnosis, nutrition or weight management referral, and metformin prescription were assessed.
Incident prediabetes occurred in 2,581 patients (5%). Thirty eight percent of those received a charted prediabetes diagnosis, 9% received either a referral to nutrition or weight management, and 4% received a metformin prescription. Females (OR 1.57) or those who had higher BMI (OR 1.02) or A1c values (OR 5.67) had higher odds of receiving clinical recognition (p<0.0001).
We conclude that relatively few people with prediabetes are clinically noted and even fewer receive interventions that may reduce the conversion to T2DM. There are gender and weight biases; patients with higher BMI, higher A1c values, and females were more likely to have documentation for diagnosis and treatment for prediabetes. These low rates of recognition and treatment are likely to be similar among health care systems across the country. The low rates of recognizing, documenting, and intervening are opportunities to better utilize the EMR and reduce conversion to T2DM.
E. Newbold: None. S.E. Carlson: Advisory Panel; Self; DSM. Other Relationship; Self; MeadJohnson Nutrition (RB). D.K. Sullivan: None. D.C. Robbins: None. A. Beltramo: None. M. Lowrance: None. L.R. Waitman: None.