Abstract
Younger adult patients with diabetes often have poorer glycemic control (HbA1c) than older patients. It is not known if this
relationship holds true in the Latino population. Objective was to explore the relationship between age and HbA1c in a Mexican
American population and what plausible factors might mediate this relationship. We analyzed data from 387 patients with diabetes
self-identified as Mexican American recruited as a part of a cross-sectional study of safety net patients in two cities. Patients
completed questionnaires and their last HbA1c was extracted from the medical record. We conducted multivariate regression
analyses and Baron and Kenny tests of mediation. Participants were young with mean age of 53 ± 12 years. Younger age was associated
with a higher HbA1c and having a higher fat diet. High fat diet partially mediated the relationship between age and HbA1c
(p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). Age’s indirect effect on HbA1c through diet was significant (Sobel = −2.44, p = 0.01). Younger Mexican American patients had higher HbA1c compared to older patients. Having a diet high in fat partially
explained this relationship. Future epidemiological studies are needed to understand the multifaceted relationship between
age and glycemic control.
relationship holds true in the Latino population. Objective was to explore the relationship between age and HbA1c in a Mexican
American population and what plausible factors might mediate this relationship. We analyzed data from 387 patients with diabetes
self-identified as Mexican American recruited as a part of a cross-sectional study of safety net patients in two cities. Patients
completed questionnaires and their last HbA1c was extracted from the medical record. We conducted multivariate regression
analyses and Baron and Kenny tests of mediation. Participants were young with mean age of 53 ± 12 years. Younger age was associated
with a higher HbA1c and having a higher fat diet. High fat diet partially mediated the relationship between age and HbA1c
(p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). Age’s indirect effect on HbA1c through diet was significant (Sobel = −2.44, p = 0.01). Younger Mexican American patients had higher HbA1c compared to older patients. Having a diet high in fat partially
explained this relationship. Future epidemiological studies are needed to understand the multifaceted relationship between
age and glycemic control.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-012-9689-0
- Authors
- Diana M. Naranjo, Department of Pediatrics, UCSF School of Medicine, 400 Parnassus Ave, Box 0318, San Francisco, CA 94143-0318, USA
- Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Departments of Medicine and Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Lawrence Fisher, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Avenue, MU 330E, Box 0900, San Francisco, CA 94143-0900, USA
- Danielle Hessler, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Avenue, MU 330E, Box 0900, San Francisco, CA 94143-0900, USA
- Alicia Fernandez, Department of Internal Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, SFGH Bldg 10, Ward 13 1307, Box 1364, San Francisco, CA 94143-1364, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912