The Quality of Medical Care Provided to Homeless Diabetes Patients in a General Hospital in Seoul, and the Prevalence of Diabetes Comorbidities / 대한내과학회지
Korean Journal of Medicine
;
: 585-592, 2014.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-151959
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
As an underprivileged population, homeless people have a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality than do non-homeless people. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease associated with high complication rates; its incidence is increasing rapidly and it requires prompt, adequate treatment and care. Therefore, we investigated the quality of medical care provided to homeless diabetics in a general hospital and comorbidities associated with diabetes.METHODS:
Between March 25, 2011 and December 31, 2012, we retrospectively investigated the medical records of the diabetes patients at a general hospital in Seoul. We assigned the patients into two groups homeless (n = 82) and non-homeless (n = 242) patients. We subsequently compared the clinical and laboratory findings, comorbidities, and complications between the two groups.RESULTS:
The homeless diabetics received treatment less regularly than the non-homeless patients and were diagnosed with diabetes while visiting the hospital for the treatment of other diseases. The homeless patients had higher glycated hemoglobin A1c levels than the non-homeless patients. The homeless patients had a higher rate of other diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, acute infectious disease, intracranial hemorrhage, and pulmonary tuberculosis; a higher incidence of acute infectious disease (odds ratio [OR], 15.671; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.115-48.070); and a higher prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (OR, 6.423; 95% CI, 1.785-23.116) than the non-homeless patients, as determined by multivariate analysis.CONCLUSIONS:
Comorbid acute infectious disease and pulmonary tuberculosis were found more frequently in homeless diabetes patients presenting to the hospital than in non-homeless diabetes patients. Therefore, attention should be paid to this differentiating factor.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
/
Ill-Housed Persons
/
Glycated Hemoglobin
/
Comorbidity
/
Medical Records
/
Chronic Disease
/
Communicable Diseases
/
Incidence
/
Prevalence
/
Multivariate Analysis
Type of study:
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Korean Journal of Medicine
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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