1University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY
2Florida A&M University; Tallahassee, FL
3University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC
4Indiana University; Indianapolis, IN
5Purdue University; West Lafayette, IN
Background/Purpose: Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, affecting approximately 15.9 million adults aged 65 years and older. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition in the United States, and the second most avoidable one in terms of health care costs. To understand why, we need a better understanding of how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence behaviors and affect medication plans among older adults with diabetes.
Methods: This study used a cross-sectional secondary data analysis to examine the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, identifying associations between SDOH and taking medication behavior among older adults with diabetes in the United States. The study population was respondents aged 65 years and older whose health care providers (HCPs) diagnosed them with diabetes. Statistical analyses consisted of univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results: Data from 1807 respondents were included in the analyses. Nearly three-quarters (73.9%) of persons with diabetes were considered adherent to taking their diabetes medications. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in adherence to medications based on age group (P = 0.001), disability status (P < 0.001), household balanced meals (P = 0.001), interview language (P = 0.004), and race (P = 0.015). Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in medication adherence based on disability status (P = 0.016), household balanced meals (P = 0.033), and interview language (P = 0.008).
Conclusions: Results revealed those with a disability, those who could not afford a balanced meal, and/or those who spoke English were associated with a higher likelihood of being nonadherent to taking their diabetes medications compared with individuals not in these groups. These findings can assist in developing SDOH-centered taking medication strategies for HCPs to implement in older adults with diabetes.
Disclosures: Financial support was provided by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute funded, in part by Grant Number UL1TR002529 from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Clinical and Translational Sciences Award.