Meaning of Illness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Lynch CP, Strom Williams J, Voronca D, Walker RJ, Egede LE. Meaning of Illness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. The Diabetes educator. 2016 Apr 1; 42(2):220-7.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• PPO 13-153 – Personal Health Record-Facilitated Diabetes Self-Management Among Rural Veterans

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Abstract:

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between meaning of illness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The sample population was recruited from primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. The meaning of illness was assessed by a validated questionnaire with 5 subscales. The primary outcomes were cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, assessed by A1C, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Multivariate linear regression models investigated associations between the clinical outcomes and the 5 MIQ factors, controlling for possible confounders. RESULTS: The sample comprised 302 black and white participants of whom more than half were elderly (65+ years) and the vast majority were male (98%). Systolic blood pressure was positively associated with non-anticipated vulnerability. Diastolic blood pressure was negatively associated with degree of stress/change in commitments and positively associated with challenge/motivation/hope and non-anticipated vulnerability. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly and negatively associated with degree of stress/change in commitments. CONCLUSIONS: Meaning of illness had a significant effect on measured outcomes of CVD risk. The specific factor included in the overarching concept of meaning of illness differed in its influence, with more positive views of stress/commitments associated with lower blood pressure and LDL but more positive views of the challenge/hope/motivation and negative views of non-anticipated vulnerability associated with diabetes associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure.