Are Diabetic Physicians at a Lower Risk of Hospitalization for Coronary Heart Disease? A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Yen-Chun; Liu, Chih-Ching; Hwang, Shiow-Li; Li, Chung-Yi; Chou, Li-Ping; Liu, Chi-Chu
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific journal of public health. Volume 27:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: NP361
• Page End: NP371
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: admission -- cohort studies -- coronary artery diseases -- diabetes mellitus -- physician; Public health -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Public health -- Asia -- Periodicals; 362.1095
• DOI: 10.1177/1010539512443279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1010-5395

Abstract

It is not uncommon for physicians to work through illness and to be reluctant to seek health care from their colleagues, which is detrimental for quality of care. This study sought to assess the risk of admission for coronary artery diseases (CADs) in diabetic physicians. A cohort of 995 diabetic physicians and 9950 age- and sex-matched controls with diabetes were identified in 2000 and were followed to the end of 2008. Over an 8-year period, 200 (20.1%) diabetic physicians and 2255 (22.7%) controls were admitted for CAD. After controlling for potential confounders, diabetic physicians experienced a reduced, but insignificantly, adjusted odds ratio (OR) of CAD admission (OR = 0.89; 95% confidence interval = 0.75-1.06). Diabetic physicians in Taiwan were not at a significantly reduced risk of CAD admission. Future studies are needed to further explore the barriers that impede diabetic physicians from appropriately managing their disease.