Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Mar-Apr;33(2):116-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.12.005. Epub 2011 Jan 31.

Associations between posttraumatic stress disorder and hemoglobin A1(C) in low-income minority patients with diabetes

Samantha A Miller  1 , Carol A Mancuso, Carla Boutin-Foster, Walid Michelen, Carol McLean-Long, Brad Foote, Mary E Charlson
Affiliations

Associations between posttraumatic stress disorder and hemoglobin A1(C) in low-income minority patients with diabetes

Samantha A Miller et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2011 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among low-income minorities and is associated with poorer health. However, the association between PTSD and hemoglobin A1(C) (A1(C)) among patients with diabetes has not been fully described. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate associations between PTSD and A1(C) among low-income minorities with diabetes.

Method: Adults with diabetes were recruited from a network of primary care clinics. Data were obtained from surveys and electronic medical records. Lifetime PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview-DSM-IV and depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A1(C) was obtained from chart review.

Results: Of 103 adults analyzed, 12% had lifetime full PTSD and 12% had subthreshold PTSD. On backward stepwise logistic regression, patients with any PTSD symptoms were significantly more likely to have an A1(C) >7% compared to patients without symptoms (OR(adj) 2.98, 95% CI 1.04-8.52, P=.04). An A1(C) >7% also was associated with an interaction between PTSD symptoms and longer diabetes duration (P<.05).

Conclusion: In this cohort of low-income minorities with diabetes, lifetime PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with an A1(C) >7%.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Proportion of patients with A1C ≤7% and >7% according to overall PTSD symptom status and PTSD subgroup. *Overall patients with any PTSD symptoms were significantly more likely to have an A1C >7% compared to those without symptoms, P=.014.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Interaction between PTSD symptoms and diabetes duration. Overall an A1C >7% was associated with an interaction between PTSD symptoms and longer diabetes duration, P<.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States 2007. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008.
    1. Liebschutz J, Saitz R, Brower V, et al. PTSD in urban primary care: high prevalence and low physician recognition. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22:719–26. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gill JM, Page GG, Sharps P, et al. Experiences of traumatic events and associations with PTSD and depression development in urban health care-seeking women. J Urban Health. 2008;85:693–706. - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4. Washington (DC): American Psychiatric Association; 1994.
    1. Kessler RC, Sonnega A, Bromet E, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995;52:1048–60. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances