Diabetes, obesity and non-optimum blood pressure levels in a group of employees of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, 2003

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of diabetes, obesity and non-optimum blood pressure levels in a group of employees of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus that participated in a diabetes health fair at the [quot ]Centro de Diabetes para Puerto Rico[quot ]. METHODS: A total of 113 participants of the diabetes health fair completed a questionnaire to obtain demographic characteristics and the frequency of self-reported diabetes. The nursing staff examined the participants in order to obtain the following clinical characteristics: body mass index, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. RESULTS: The proportion of self-reported diabetes, obesity (> or = 30 kg/m2) and non-optimum blood pressure levels (systolic > or = 20 mm/Hg or diastolic > or = 80 mm/Hg) were 15.4(95CI: 8.5- 25.7), 80.0(95CI: 70.8-86.9) and 70.5(95CI: 61.1-78.6), respectively. Although it was not statistically significant, diabetes was higher among females (15.4) compared to males (12.0). All participants with self-reported diabetes were overweight or obese, and 91.7showed non-optimum blood pressure levels. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between blood pressure levels and body mass index (r = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of persons with diabetes, obesity, and non-optimum blood pressure levels in this sample of Medical Sciences Campus employees underscores the need for confirming these results in a larger study and developing strategies focused on reducing health risks in this population.

Health disparities between diabetic patients under private and public health coverage in Puerto Rico, 2000

OBJECTIVE: To examine health disparities between diabetic patients receiving services in private and public health sectors. METHODS: Insureds with service claims for diabetes (ICD-9 250-259) from two private insurance companies and two public health groups were selected. Personnel of the participant insurance companies were responsible for identifying medical claims that met the study inclusion criteria and providing the information in a computerized database file. RESULTS: Overall prevalence was 4.9%. Prevalence in the public sector (5.8%) was higher than that of the private sector (3.7%) (p < 0.0001). The overall prevalence among females of the public sector was nearly twice (6.3%) the prevalence in the private sector (3.3%) (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of the majority of services analyzed was larger in the public sector. However, prevalence of specific services (glucose and glycosilated hemoglobin tests) was larger in the private sector. Differences between sectors in the prevalence of complications were also observed. Prevalence and service utilization also varied by age and sex in both sectors. CONCLUSIONS: Significant difference exists in the prevalence of diabetes and health service utilization between the private and the public sector.