Interpersonal Continuity of Care May Help Delay Progression to Type 2 Diabetes

Bobbie L Johannes; G Craig Wood; Arch G Mainous 3rd; Adam Cook; Alanna Kulchak Rahm; Christopher D Still; Lisa Bailey-Davis

doi:10.3122/jabfm.2023.230382R2

Interpersonal Continuity of Care May Help Delay Progression to Type 2 Diabetes

J Am Board Fam Med. 2024 Dec 26:jabfm.2023.230382R2. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230382R2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Bobbie L Johannes¹, G Craig Wood², Arch G Mainous 3rd², Adam Cook², Alanna Kulchak Rahm², Christopher D Still², Lisa Bailey-Davis²

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA (BLJ, LBD); Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, Danville, PA (GCW, AC, CDS, LBD); Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, Health Sciences Center, Gainesville, FL (AGM); Geisinger Department of Genomic Health, Danville, PA 17822 (AKR); Division of Genomic Medicine, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (AKR). bjohannes@geisinger.edu).
² From the Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA (BLJ, LBD); Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, Danville, PA (GCW, AC, CDS, LBD); Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, Health Sciences Center, Gainesville, FL (AGM); Geisinger Department of Genomic Health, Danville, PA 17822 (AKR); Division of Genomic Medicine, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (AKR).

PMID: 39725467
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230382R2

Abstract

Background: The association between interpersonal continuity of care (CoC) and progression from the prediabetic state to Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remains unknown.

Aim: To evaluate the association between interpersonal CoC and the progression to T2D among persons with prediabetes.

Design and setting: A retrospective cohort study using electronic health record (EHR) data from 6620 patients at Geisinger, a large rural health care system in Danville, PA.

Methods: Cox regression methods were used to estimate the hazard ratio associated with progression to T2D within 3-years of being diagnosed with prediabetes.

Results: One additional visit with the primary care provider most frequently seen by the patient is associated with 14% decreased risk (HR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.85, 0.87; P < .001) of transitioning to type 2 diabetes within 3 years of being diagnosed with prediabetes.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates an association between increased interpersonal CoC after a person is diagnosed with prediabetes and a reduced risk of progressing to T2D within 3 years.

Keywords: Access to Primary Care; Continuity of Patient Care; Electronic Health Records; Prediabetic State; Primary Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.