Yuka Tsujimura1, Yoshimitsu Takahashi2, Tatsuro Ishizaki3, Akira Kuriyama2, Kikuko Miyazaki2, Toshihiko Satoh4, Shunya Ikeda5, Shinya Kimura6, Takeo Nakayama2. 1. Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City 606-8501, Japan. Electronic address: tsujimura.yuka.67z@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp. 2. Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City 606-8501, Japan. 3. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan. 4. School of Social Informatics, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara City 252-5258, Japan. 5. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International University and Health Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara City 324-8501, Japan. 6. Japan Medical Data Center Co., Ltd., 3-1, Koujimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
Abstract
AIMS: Although people screened as being hyperglycaemic often fail to follow up with physicians for clinical assessment, epidemiologic findings on the frequency and predictors of not following up (hereafter, "no follow-up") are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the no follow-up rate with physicians after screening for diabetes and predictors of no follow-up. METHODS: We assessed cases of no follow-up with physicians within six months after screening based on medical claims data from employee-based social health insurance programs in Japan, for people aged 20 to 68 years from 2005 to 2010. RESULTS: Among 3878 screened participants with hyperglycaemia, 2527 (65%) did not follow up with their physicians within six months after screening. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age and lower blood glucose level predicted no follow-up among both men and women, while lower body mass index and negative proteinuria also predicted no follow-up among men. Treatment for dyslipidaemia facilitated follow-up among both genders, and treatment for hypertension or depression facilitated follow-up among men. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately two thirds of individuals screened as having hyperglycaemia did not follow up with their physicians within six months after screening. Predictors of no follow-up were younger age and milder hyperglycaemia. Being on treatment for co-morbidities tended to facilitate follow-up.
AIMS: Although people screened as being hyperglycaemic often fail to follow up with physicians for clinical assessment, epidemiologic findings on the frequency and predictors of not following up (hereafter, "no follow-up") are lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the no follow-up rate with physicians after screening for diabetes and predictors of no follow-up. METHODS: We assessed cases of no follow-up with physicians within six months after screening based on medical claims data from employee-based social health insurance programs in Japan, for people aged 20 to 68 years from 2005 to 2010. RESULTS: Among 3878 screened participants with hyperglycaemia, 2527 (65%) did not follow up with their physicians within six months after screening. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age and lower blood glucose level predicted no follow-up among both men and women, while lower body mass index and negative proteinuria also predicted no follow-up among men. Treatment for dyslipidaemia facilitated follow-up among both genders, and treatment for hypertension or depression facilitated follow-up among men. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately two thirds of individuals screened as having hyperglycaemia did not follow up with their physicians within six months after screening. Predictors of no follow-up were younger age and milder hyperglycaemia. Being on treatment for co-morbidities tended to facilitate follow-up.
Authors: Timo Kauppila; Merja K Laine; Mikko Honkasalo; Marko Raina; Johan G Eriksson Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2016-07-12 Impact factor: 2.581