Do physicians with diabetes have differences in dialysis use and survival than other patients with diabetes

To assess whether the increased knowledge and resources available to physicians led to differences in dialysis and survival rates between physicians and non-physician patients with diabetes.

All newly diagnosed (1997-2009) type 2 diabetes patients aged ≥35 years from the National Health Insurance Program of Taiwan database were included. After propensity score matching (1:10), we estimated the relative risk of dialysis and death using Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for demographic characteristics and comorbidities.

Physicians with diabetes were more likely to start dialysis than general patients, with a 48% increased hazard risk (HR) (P=0.006). Physicians with diabetes had significantly lower risk of death (HR: 0.88; P=0.025). However, those requiring dialysis had a non-significant increased risk of death (HR: 1.19). There was an increased HR for death in older physicians (HR: 1.81; P<0.001) and those with cancer or catastrophic illness. The HR of dialysis (7.89; P<0.0001) increased dramatically with increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index scores.

Physicians with DM survived longer than other patients with diabetes, likely benefiting from their professional resources in disease control and prevention. Nonetheless, they displayed no advantage from their medical backgrounds compared with the general patients if they developed end stage renal disease.