Interpersonal Continuity of Care May Help Delay Progression to Type 2 Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The relationship between continuity of care and the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well understood.
• Prediabetes affects a significant portion of the population, and identifying factors that influence T2D development is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between interpersonal continuity of care (CoC) and the likelihood of progression to T2D in individuals diagnosed with prediabetes.
• To quantify the risk reduction associated with higher CoC in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing electronic health record (EHR) data from 6620 patients.
• Analysis conducted within a large, rural healthcare system.
• Cox regression models were employed to assess the hazard ratio for T2D progression within 3 years of prediabetes diagnosis.

Main Results:

• An increase in visits with the primary care provider most frequently seen by a patient was associated with a 14% decreased risk of progressing to T2D within 3 years.
• This association was statistically significant (HR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.85, 0.87; P < .001).

Conclusions:

• The study provides evidence that enhanced interpersonal continuity of care following a prediabetes diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of transitioning to T2D within a 3-year timeframe.
• Findings suggest that fostering stronger patient-provider relationships in primary care may be a valuable strategy in T2D prevention.