<< BACK TO POSTERS

ABSTRACT INFORMATION
Title: 'Undiagnosed Diabetes and Adults Deaf Since Birth or Childhood' Track: 5 - Medical Home Keyword(s): deaf; diabetes; health literacy; obesity Learning Objectives: List some adult health conditions associated with being deaf since birth or childhood. Explain the importance of including deaf people in public health surveillance and research. Explain the importance of accessible health information and healthcare communication. Abstract: Objective: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in a cohort of adults who have been deaf since birth or childhood. Background: Adults deaf since birth/childhood are at risk for obesity, low health literacy, and poor healthcare communication. We hypothesized that overweight and obese adults deaf since birth/childhood would have high risk for undiagnosed diabetes. Method: We analyzed baseline data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial of a healthy lifestyle intervention with deaf adult sign language users in Rochester NY ages 40-70 with a BMI 25-45. Data include measured height, weight, and hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c, a blood test for diabetes), and a survey in English and sign language that includes the question: “Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?” We defined “undiagnosed” diabetes as anyone with a HgbA1c >6.4% and who did not answer “yes” to that survey item. We compared these findings with national data from the CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), creating a general population sample comparable in terms of age, BMI and race. Results: The prevalence of diabetes in the deaf sample (n=103; all became deaf before 18yo, with 83.5% deaf since before age 4yo) was 19.4% (13.6% diagnosed and 5.8% undiagnosed). The prevalence in the comparable US general population sample (n=913) was 15.0% (11.2% diagnosed; 3.8% undiagnosed). Conclusion: Adults deaf since birth/childhood appear to be at high risk for undiagnosed diabetes. Our research participants were motivated to join a healthy lifestyle clinical trial; we suspect the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes is higher in overweight/obese deaf adults not enrolled in the trial. Deaf people, their clinicians, family members and public health professionals should advocate for appropriate screening and access to services and information. Research should identify risks factors and evaluate prevention strategies with individuals, families and communities. Presentation: This presentation has not yet been uploaded or the speaker has opted not to make the presentation available online. Handouts: Handout is not Available
PRESENTER(S) / AUTHOR(S) INFORMATION
Steven Barnett - POC,Primary Presenter University of Rochester      Credentials: MD      Other Affiliations: Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research       Steven Barnett MD is a family physician researcher who is Associate Director of the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR), a CDC-funded prevention research center. NCDHR’s mission is health promotion and disease prevention with deaf people and their families through community-based participatory research.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Erika Sutter - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: MPH       Erika Sutter MPH is a research coordinator with the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR).       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Paul Winters - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: M.S.       Paul Winters is a statistician in the University of Rochester Department of Family Medicine, and he has extensive experience working with large nationally representative weighted datasets.       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Carlene Mowl - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: MPH       Carlene Mowl MPH is a research coordinator with the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR).       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Michael McKee - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: MD MPH      Other Affiliations: Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research       Michael M. McKee MD MPH is a family physician researcher with the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR).       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Scott Smith - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: MD MPH      Other Affiliations: Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research       Scott R. Smith MD MPH is a pediatrician researcher with the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR).       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist. Thomas Pearson - Author University of Rochester      Credentials: MD MPH PhD      Other Affiliations: Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR)       Thomas A. Pearson MD PhD MPH is the founding Director of the Rochester Prevention Research Center: National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR). Dr. Pearson is also the Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research and Director of the Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).       ASHA DISCLOSURE: Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist. Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.