New findings from Duke University, Medical Department in the area of medicare and medicaid described
December 22nd, 2008
2008 DEC 22 -- In this recent article published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, scientists in the United States conducted a study "To determine if diabetic eye disease has changed over time among older Americans and to explore possibilities for observed change. We performed a longitudinal analysis of nationally representative Medicare data, the Medicare 5% sample, collected from January 1, 1991, through December 31, 2004, using standard claims data algorithms and cross-sectional analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey."
"Compared with Medicare beneficiaries first diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 1994, those first diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and in 2003 showed lower rates of background and proliferative diabetic retinopathy within 1 year after diagnosis and during 6 years of follow-up among the 1999 cohort. Six-year rates of surgical procedures for retinopathy were lower among beneficiaries in the 1999 cohort than in the 1994 cohort, and rates of glucose, lipid, and cholesterol monitoring were higher. In addition, hypertension was diagnosed more frequently among the 1999 cohort during 6 years. Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey showed higher rates of antihypertensive drug use among persons diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 compared with 1994," wrote F.A. Sloan and colleagues, Duke University, Medical Department.
The researchers concluded: "Decreases in rates of diabetic retinopathy among persons newly diagnosed with diabetes enrolled in Medicare from 1994 to 2004 and concurrent improvements in primary care for diabetes suggest that better primary care has had an effect on the Medicare population,'."
Sloan and colleagues published their study in Archives of Ophthalmology (Changes in Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus-Related Eye Disease Among US Elderly Persons, 1994-2005. Archives of Ophthalmology, 2008;126(11):1548-1553).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting F.A. Sloan, Duke University, Center Health Policy, School Medical, Dept. of Economics, Campus Box 90253, 114 Rubenstein Hall, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
The publisher of the journal Archives of Ophthalmology can be contacted at: American Medical Association, 515 N State St., Chicago, IL 60610-0946, USA.
Keywords: United States, Durham, Medicare and Medicaid, Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Retinopathy, Endocrinology, Eye Disease, Health Policy, Medicare, Ophthalmology, Duke University, Medical Department.
This article was prepared by Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com.
