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Clinical Investigations
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Treating Chronically Ill People with Diabetes Mellitus with Limited Life Expectancy: Implications for Performance Measurement
Article first published online: 19 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03784.x
© 2012, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2012, The American Geriatrics Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Woodard, L. D., Landrum, C. R., Urech, T. H., Profit, J., Virani, S. S. and Petersen, L. A. (2012), Treating Chronically Ill People with Diabetes Mellitus with Limited Life Expectancy: Implications for Performance Measurement. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60: 193–201. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03784.x
The views expressed are solely of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 14 FEB 2012
- Article first published online: 19 JAN 2012
Funded by
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Johnson Foundation. Grant Number: 045444
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Grant Number: K23 HD056298
- VA HSR&D Service Career Development. Grant Number: CDA-09–028
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- diabetes mellitus;
- quality of care;
- performance measurement;
- limited life expectancy
Objectives
To develop an algorithm to identify individuals with limited life expectancy and examine the effect of limited life expectancy on glycemic control and treatment intensification in individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Design
Individuals with diabetes mellitus and coexisting congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, end-stage liver disease, and/or primary or metastatic cancer with limited life expectancy were identified. To validate the algorithm, 5-year mortality was assessed in individuals identified as having limited life expectancy. Rates of meeting performance measures for glycemic control between individuals with and without limited life expectancy were compared. In individuals with uncontrolled glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, the effect of limited life expectancy on treatment intensification within 90 days was examined.
Setting
One hundred ten Department of Veterans Affairs facilities; October 2006 to September 2007.
Participants
Eight hundred eighty-eight thousand six hundred twenty-eight individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Measurements
HbA1c; treatment intensification within 90 days of index HbA1c reading.
Results
Twenty-nine thousand sixteen (3%) participants had limited life expectancy. Adjusting for age, 5-year mortality was five times as high in participants with limited life expectancy than in those without. Participants with limited life expectancy had poorer glycemic control than those without (glycemic control: 77.1% vs 78.1%; odds ratio (OR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.81–0.86) and less-frequent treatment intensification (treatment intensification: 20.9% vs 28.6%; OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.67–0.76), even after controlling for patient-level characteristics.
Conclusion
Participants with limited life expectancy were less likely than those without to have controlled HbA1c levels and to receive treatment intensification, suggesting that providers treat these individuals less aggressively. Quality measurement and performance-based reimbursement systems should acknowledge the different needs of this population.