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PurposeThe Population-based Microbiome Research Core (PMRC) is an expandable and longitudinal research core infrastructure to support the study of the human microbiome within the context of environmental, sociodemographic, and health factors. Broadly, the purpose of this infrastructure is to provide new insights into how human-environment interactions affect health through its influence on the composition and function of the microbiome. The PMRC was established as an ancillary study of the Survey of Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) and serves as a platform for ancillary studies, ongoing follow-up of the cohort, and expansion of the microbiome biorepository.ParticipantsThe study recruited adult participants who had previously participated in SHOW’s Wisconsin Microbiome Study (WMS). Over 59% of the eligible WMS participants agreed to provide a repeat stool sample and household samples including dust, high touch surface swabs and outside soil.Findings to datePMRC includes 323 individuals; the majority (96%) were over the age of eighteen, white (84%), urban (75%), and lived in their homes for over one year (92%). Overall, 97% of participants completed the questionnaire and household high-touch surface swab collection, and 93% and 94% completed dust and stool collection, respectively. Soil samples were collected for 86% of all participant homes.Future plansSample protocols developed for the PMRC offer a unique framework for future household-based microbiome research. This infrastructure can support the generation of new knowledge on the role of the home environment in relation to the human microbiome and identify new opportunities for intervention research.

Objective: To optimize type 1 diabetes (T1D) self-management, experts recommend tailoring care to meet people’s needs and preferences. To facilitate this tailoring, we developed and validated the Barriers and Supports Evaluation (BASES) tool to identify working-age adults’ T1D self-management barriers and supports. Methods: Participants were 25-64 year old adults with T1D recruited from clinics and a community-based registry. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, content analysis of 33 semi-structured interviews was used to create a comprehensive item pool of 136 items, further refined to 70 candidate items on a 5-point Likert scale through cognitive interviewing and pilot testing. To develop and validate the tool, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to 392 participants’ survey responses to the candidate barrier and support items. Additional survey data included demographics and the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life Scale-Revised. To evaluate concurrent validity, A1c values from medical records and quality of life (QoL) scores were regressed on domain scores. Results: Factor analyses yielded 5 domains with a total of 30 items: (1) Cognitive Processes, (2) Costs and Insurance, (3) Learning Opportunities, (4) Family and Friend Support, and (5) Diabetes Provider Interactions. Models exhibited good to adequate fit, with Comparative Fit Index (CFI)>0.88 and Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA) Conclusions: The BASES tool is brief, patient-centered, and demonstrates construct and concurrent validity. The tool could be used in clinical practice to tailor diabetes support and education to individual’s needs, improving effectiveness of services. Disclosure E. D. Cox: None. E. M. Planalp: None. H. Kliems: None. M. Palta: n/a. T. J. Lecaire: None. B. A. Chewning: None. Funding American Diabetes Association (1-18-ICTS-026 to E.D.C.)

PurposeThe Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) was established in 2008 by the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) with the goals of 1) providing a timely and accurate picture of the health of the state residents; and 2) serving as an agile resource infrastructure for ancillary studies. Today SHOW continues to serve as a vital population health research infrastructure.ParticipantsSHOW currently includes 5,846 adult and 980 minor participants recruited between 2008-2019 in four primary waves. WAVE I (2008-2013) includes annual statewide representative samples of 3,380 adults ages 21 to 74 years. WAVE II (2014-2016) is a triannual statewide sample of 1957 adults (age ≥18 years) and 645 children. WAVE III (2017) consists of follow-up of 725 adults from the WAVE I and baseline surveys of 222 children in selected households. WAVEs II and III include stool samples collected as part of an ancillary study in a subset of 784 individuals. WAVE IV consist of 517 adults and 113 children recruited from traditionally under-represented populations in biomedical research including African Americans and Hispanics in Milwaukee county, WI.Findings to DateThe SHOW provides extensive data to examine the intersectionality of multiple social determinants and population health. SHOW includes a large biorepository and extensive health data collected in a geographically diverse urban and rural population. Over 60 studies have been published covering a broad range of topics including, urban and rural disparities in cardio-metabolic disease and cancer, objective physical activity, sleep, green-space and mental health, transcriptomics, the gut microbiome, antibiotic resistance, air pollution, concentrated animal feeding operations and heavy metal exposures.Future PlansThe SHOW cohort is available for continued longitudinal follow-up and ancillary studies including genetic, multi-omic and translational environmental health, aging, microbiome and COVID-19 research.Article SummaryStrengths and limitationsThe Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) is an infrastructure to advance population health sciences including biological sample collection and broader data on individual and neighborhood social and environmental determinants of health.The extensive data from diverse urban and rural populations offers a unique study sample to compare how socio-economic gradients shape health outcomes in different contexts.The objective health data supports novel interdisciplinary research initiatives and is especially suited for research in causes and consequences of environmental exposures (physical, chemical, social) across the life course on cardiometabolic health, immunity, and aging related conditions.The extensive biorepository supports novel omics research into common biological mechanisms underlying numerous complex chronic conditions including inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolomics, and epigenetic modulation.Ancillary studies, such as the Wisconsin Microbiome Study, have expanded the utility of the study to examine human susceptibility to environmental exposures and opportunities for investigations of the role of microbiome in health and disease.Long-standing partnerships and recent participation among traditionally under-represented populations in biomedical research offer numerous opportunities to support community-driven health equity work.No biological samples were collected among children.The statewide sampling frame may limit generalizability to other regions in the United States.

Children’s sleep quality and duration are important to overall development, health, and wellbeing. However, measuring children’s sleep is challenging, especially in situations where objective assessment is impractical. This study aimed to assess age and proxy effects in comparing subjective sleep duration with objective measures, in a community-based sample of Wisconsin children (aged 6–17 years), recruited from 2014–2017. The sample participants had a mean age of 11.4 (standard deviation, 3.3) years and 52% of them were male. We used linear mixed effects models to test for age effects in proxy- and self-report groups separately, and a quasiexperimental regression discontinuity approach to compare subjective sleep duration with objective actigraphy estimates across proxy- and self-report groups. We found evidence of systematic overestimation of sleep duration when using subjective measurements but did not find evidence of age effects in either group. Based on these analyses, we found evidence of differential overestimation by proxy- or self-report condition. Proxy reporters overestimated sleep duration by 2.3 hours (95% confidence interval: 2.2, 2.4), compared with 1.0 hour (95% confidence interval: 0.7, 1.2) for self-reporters. These findings suggest that proxy- versus self-reporting conditions are an important consideration when designing a study, and that it might be beneficial to reduce the age at which children self-report.

Objectives This study aimed to understand the potential reach of continence promotion intervention formats among incontinent women. Methods The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin conducts household interviews on a population-based sample. In 2016, 399 adult women were asked about incontinence and likelihood of participation in continence promotion via 3 formats: single lecture, interactive 3-session workshop, or online. Descriptive analyses compared women likely versus unlikely to participate in continence promotion. To understand format preferences, modified grounded theory was used to conduct and analyze telephone interviews. Results One hundred eighty-seven (76%) of 246 incontinent women reported being likely to attend continence promotion: 111 (45%) for a single lecture, 43 (17%) for an interactive 3-session workshop, and 156 (64%) for an online program. Obesity, older age, nonwhite race, prior health program participation, and Internet use for health information were associated with reported continence promotion participation. Cited advantages of a single lecture included convenience and ability to ask questions. A workshop offered accountability, hands-on learning, and opportunity to learn from others; online format offered privacy, convenience, and self-directed learning. Conclusions Most incontinent women are willing to participate in continence promotion, especially online.

IntroductionTo optimize type 1 diabetes mellitus self-management, experts recommend a person-centered approach, in which care is tailored to meet people’s needs and preferences. Existing tools for tailoring type 1 diabetes mellitus education and support are limited by narrow focus, lack of strong association with meaningful outcomes like A1c, or having been developed before widespread use of modern diabetes technology. To facilitate comprehensive, effective tailoring for today’s working-aged adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus, we developed and validated the Barriers and Supports Evaluation (BASES).Research design and methodsParticipants 25–64 years of age with type 1 diabetes mellitus were recruited from clinics and a population-based registry. Content analysis of semistructured interviews (n=33) yielded a pool of 136 items, further refined to 70 candidate items on a 5-point Likert scale through cognitive interviewing and piloting. To develop and validate the tool, factor analyses were applied to responses to candidate items (n=392). Additional survey data included demographics and the Diabetes-Specific Quality of Life (QOL) Scale-Revised. To evaluate concurrent validity, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values and QOL scores were regressed on domain scores.ResultsFactor analyses yielded 5 domains encompassing 30 items: Learning Opportunities, Costs and Insurance, Family and Friends, Coping and Behavioral Skills, and Diabetes Provider Interactions. Models exhibited good to adequate fit (Comparative Fit Index >0.88 and Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation ConclusionsThe BASES is a valid, comprehensive, person-centered tool that can tailor diabetes support and education to individuals’ needs in a modern practice environment, improving effectiveness and uptake of services. Clinicians could use the tool to uncover patient-specific barriers that limit success in achieving HbA1c goals and optimal QOL.

Background: Children attending daycare are at increased risk of carrying multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) compared to children not attending daycare. Carriage of MDROs greatly increases the risk of infection, not only in the child but also for others living in the household. Understanding the epidemiology of MDRO carriage in children is essential to devising effective containment strategies. Here, we present the findings from a cross-sectional study assessing MDRO carriage in daycare-attending and nonattending children in Wisconsin. Methods: We applied the following enrollment criteria: Children aged between 6 months and H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Skin samples were cultured for MRSA, and stool samples were cultured for MRSA, C. difficile, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Gram-negative bacilli (ie, ESBL GNR). Results: In total, 44 children were enrolled in this study. The average age was 2.6 years and 50% were girls. Furthermore, 30 (68.2%) were identified by their parents as white, 9 (20.5%) as black, and 5 (11.3%) as other or multiracial. Incidentally, 23 children (52.3%) were enrolled in daycare. Overall, 18 children were positive for at least 1 organism, 9 of which had daycare exposure, and 5 children (1 in daycare) were positive for >1 organism (11.4%). From stool samples, 6 children (13.6%, 2 in daycare) were C. difficile carriers, 3 were VRE carriers (6.8%, 1 in daycare), 8 carried an ESBL GNR (18.2%, 4 in daycare), and 3 carried MRSA (6.8%, 1 in daycare). One child was positive for H. influenzae (2.3%, not in daycare) and 2 were positive for S. pneumoniae (4.6%, 1 in daycare) from nares swabs. One child was positive for MRSA (2.3%, not in daycare) from a skin swab. We detected no significant differences between children with and without daycare exposure for any organism. Conclusions: Children in this population had higher than expected rates of ESBL GNRs and MRSA for a community population. Daycare exposure was not correlated with increased carriage in this small pilot study, though larger longitudinal studies are needed.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

BACKGROUND: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, and is estimated to cause 21,000 deaths every year. Radon is especially prevalent in the upper Midwest. This study aimed to assess radon testing and mitigation practices among residential homeowners, landlords, and school districts in Wisconsin. METHODS: Two survey sample datasets were used to assess radon testing and mitigation in residential homes: the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) and Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Wisconsin landlords and school administrators were surveyed to assess radon testing and mitigation in rental properties and schools, respectively. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of Wisconsin homeowners (22.1% from SHOW and 39.9% from BRFSS) have tested their properties for radon. Similarly, 31.0% of Wisconsin landlords (40/129) and 35.1% of Wisconsin school districts (78/222) have tested their schools for radon. Of homeowners with elevated radon, about 60% mitigated. School districts whose radon levels tested high most commonly did not mitigate, with costs and/or lack of funding cited as the most common barrier. DISCUSSION: Radon testing and mitigation practices are inadequate in Wisconsin, and future work will seek to determine the best methods to increase testing and mitigation and reduce radon-induced lung cancer deaths in Wisconsin.

Background/Aim: Obesity may increase human sensitivity to environmental toxicants through multiple mechanisms including inflammation. Obesity has been shown to increase susceptibility of asthma sym...

Background Women with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) have an elevated fracture risk. We therefore compared the associations of health behaviours and clinical factors with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodelling between premenopausal women with and without T1DM to inform potential interventions. Methods Participants included women with T1DM (n = 89) from the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study and age-matched and race-matched controls without diabetes (n = 76). Peripheral (heel and forearm) and central (hip and spine) BMD, markers of bone resorption and formation, bone cell signalling, glycaemic control, and kidney function were assessed. Health behaviours and medical history were self-reported. Results In controls, but not in women with T1DM, older age was associated with lower bone resorption (p ≤ 0.006) and formation (p = 0.0007). Body mass index was positively associated with heel and forearm BMD in both controls and T1DM women (all p

Background Individuals with type 1 diabetes may have low IGF-1, related to insulinopenia and insulin resistance. There are few longitudinal studies of IGF-1 levels to establish its pattern in type 1 diabetes with duration and age, and to examine whether IGF-1 tracks within individuals over time. We examine age and duration trends, and the relationship of IGF-1 to gender, glycaemic control, insulin level and other factors. Methods Participants in the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study, an incident cohort study of type 1 diabetes diagnosed May 1987–April 1992, were followed for up to 18 years with IGF-1 samples up to age 45 for women and age 37 for men. Results IGF-1 is lower with type 1 diabetes than in normative samples. Although, the pattern across age resembles that in normative samples with a peak in adolescence and slow decline after age 20, the adolescent peak is delayed for women with type 1 diabetes. There was low to moderate tracking of IGF-1 within an individual. Higher insulin dose was associated with higher IGF-1 as was puberty, and female gender. Adjusted for these factors, IGF-1 declined rapidly across early diabetes duration. Lower HbA1c was most strongly related to higher IGF-1 at Tanner stages 1 and 2. Conclusions IGF-1 is low in type 1 diabetes, with a delayed adolescent peak in women and is especially influenced by glycaemic control in early and pre-adolescence. High variability within an individual is likely a challenge in investigating associations between IGF-1 and long-term outcomes, and may explain contradictory findings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Oxytocin, a hormone most commonly associated with parturition and lactation, may have additional roles in diabetes complications. We determined oxytocin levels in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) compared with non-diabetic controls and examined associations of oxytocin with health behaviours, clinical factors, biomarkers, kidney function and bone health. Lower oxytocin was hypothesized for T1DM. Methods A cross-sectional study of premenopausal women with T1DM (n = 88) from the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study, a population-based cohort of incident T1DM cases, and matched non-diabetic controls (n = 74) was conducted. Results Women with T1DM had lower oxytocin levels than controls adjusting for caffeine and alcohol use (p = 0.03). Health behaviours associated with oxytocin differed between women with and without T1DM: oxytocin was negatively associated with hormonal contraceptive use (quantified as lifetime contraceptive oestrogen exposure) in women with T1DM (p = 0.003), whereas positively related to hormonal contraceptive use (quantified as never/former/current) in controls (p

Background There is significant inappropriate and overuse of antibiotics in the United States. We describe patterns of self-reported actual use of antibiotics and indications in Wisconsin adults. Methods The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) is an annual health study of a wide range of health determinants and outcomes among a population-based sample of residents with targeted recruitment of underrepresented minorities. In 2016, SHOW initiated WARRIOR (Winning the War on Antibiotic Resistance), an ancillary study that assessed actual antibiotic use and indications among adults. Antibiotics were grouped by pharmacologic class, and indications were grouped into clinical categories. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with antibiotic use. Results Overall, 756 adults [435 female and 321 male; mean (SD) age=54.2 (16.5)] were recruited, and 256 (33.5%) reported antibiotic use in the past year. Females (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.70), people with current comorbidities or history of certain health conditions (OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.39), and people with a mental health or developmental condition (OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.33, 281) were statistically significantly more likely to report antibiotic use. BMI (kg/m2) was slightly higher among antibiotic users (31.2) than nonusers (29.8; P = 0.064). Diabetes, heavy drinking, and smoking history were not correlated with antibiotic use. Top antibiotic classes used were penicillins (31%), macrolides (12%), first-generation cephalosporins (9%), tetracyclines (8%), quinolones (7%), and nitroimidazoles (3%). Top indications reported were upper respiratory infection (URI; 32.3%), dental condition or procedure (21.0%), surgery (12.6%), lower respiratory infection (11%), urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infection (7%), skin or soft-tissue infection (6%), and insect bite or insect-borne infection (6%). Conclusion Antibiotic use varies among Wisconsin adults, and certain groups are more likely to have used antibiotics in the last year. The top two reported indications for antibiotics were categories with known high rates of inappropriate (e.g., URI) and prophylactic (i.e., dental) prescribing. Further studies are needed to determine specific opportunities to reduce antibiotic use in Wisconsin. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

OBJECTIVE In the population-based Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) cohort, we sought to examine whether a decline in the prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was evident with increasing calendar year of type 1 diabetes diagnosis among people followed for 25 years. Factors associated with the hazard of incident ESRD that may mediate a decline were also investigated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants were examined at baseline in 1980 (n = 996) and at 4–25 years of follow-up. ESRD was defined by self-reported renal transplant or dialysis. Cumulative incidence with competing risk of death was determined. Incident ESRD was modeled by period of diagnosis, adjusting for other known risk factors using discrete time hazard models. RESULTS When diabetes was diagnosed during 1970–1980, the unadjusted cumulative incidence of ESRD at 25 years was 9.3%. The unadjusted hazard of ESRD was reduced by 70% (P < 0.001), compared with those diagnosed with diabetes in 1922–1969; however, the association was attenuated by glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive use (hazard ratio [HR] 0.89 [95% CI 0.55–1.45]). HbA1c, age, and male sex remained associated with ESRD hazard after adjustment for kidney function and proliferative retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS A lower incidence of ESRD among those more recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was explained by improvements in glycemic and blood pressure control over the last several decades. Intensive diabetes management, especially for glycemic control, remains important even in long-standing diabetes as it may delay the development of ESRD.

OBJECTIVE The Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study (WDRS) cohort consisted of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the same geographic region as, but 8–34 years later than the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) cohort, providing a unique opportunity to assess changes in complications. We estimated the current prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy at 20 years of diabetes duration, compared these between eras, and evaluated the influence of diabetes management. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-year examinations, including fundus photographs, were completed on 305 WDRS subjects during 2007–2011. A subgroup of the WESDR cohort participated in one of four study visits during 1980–1996, at similar diabetes duration (n = 583). Adjusted ordinal logistic regression with three retinopathy severity categories was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of more severe retinopathy with diagnosis during an earlier era. RESULTS Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was lower in WDRS than in WESDR (8.0% vs. 9.3% [P < 0.001], and 93.4% vs. 21.3% [P < 0.001]) used ≥3 daily insulin injections or an insulin pump. In WDRS, 18% had vision-threatening levels of retinopathy vs. 43% in WESDR. The adjusted OR of more severe retinopathy in the earlier era (OR 3.0 [95% CI 2.2–4.0]) was reduced by including 20-year HbA1c in the model (OR 2.2 [1.6–3.0]). CONCLUSIONS Retinopathy severity at a diabetes duration of 20 years is lower in the more recent era of type 1 diabetes. Updated projections should be used when informing newly diagnosed individuals of prognosis and for health care cost assessments. Current glycemic control explained a limited amount of the difference.

Background The social and economic environment has become a major area of interest regarding the determinants of cardiovascular health. Among markers of economic distress, food insecurity has been found associated with metabolic disorders, dyslipidemia, and obesity, but no previous studies have examined its association with overall cardiovascular health. Methods and results We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 2935 participants in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), a statewide population-based representative sample. The presence of food insecurity was determined by an affirmative answer to the question “In the last 12 months, have you been concerned about having enough food for you or your family?” Cardiovascular health (CVH) was defined based on the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 criteria and classified as “poor,” “intermediate,” or “ideal” using previously published criteria. “Good” CVH was defined as having no poor in any of the seven criteria (any amount of intermediate or ideal). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) of good CVH according to presence of food insecurity were calculated using logistic regression models. Overall, food insecurity was associated with a decreased likelihood of good CVH (OR 0.53; 95% Confidence Interval 0.31 to 0.92; p = 0.02). This association persisted in models controlling for age, gender, race, and urbanization. Conclusions Participants who were food insecure were significantly less likely to have good CVH compared to participants who were food secure. Even though this study cannot confirm causality, these results suggest that food insecurity might be one of several socio-economic barriers contributing to poor CVH.

The etiology of bone fragility in individuals with type 1 diabetes is unknown. This study demonstrated that bone turnover favors resorption and that poor glycemic control is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and low bone turnover, in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes. The results could inform future interventions. Low BMD and fracture may be complications of type 1 diabetes. We sought to determine the roles of bone turnover and glycemic control in the etiology of low BMD. Premenopausal women from the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study and matched controls were compared (n = 75 pairs). Heel and forearm BMD were measured, and hip and spine BMD were measured in a subset. Markers of bone formation (osteocalcin) and resorption (NTx), and glycemic control (HbA1c) were determined. Age ranged from 18 to 50 years with a mean of 28, and 97% were Non-Hispanic white. Among women with diabetes, mean disease duration was 16 years and current HbA1c was 8%. Compared to controls, women with diabetes had a high prevalence of previous fracture (37% vs. 24%) and low BMD for age (heel or forearm: 49% vs. 31%), low heel and forearm BMD, and low osteocalcin levels. Levels of NTx were similar, suggesting uncoupled turnover favoring resorption. Poor glycemic control was associated with low BMD at all bone sites except the spine, and with low osteocalcin and NTx levels. Optimal glycemic control may prevent low BMD and altered bone turnover in type 1 diabetes, and decrease fracture risk.

Background Our objective was to use a human factors and systems engineering approach to understand contributors to surgical readmissions from a patient and provider perspective. Previous studies on readmission have neglected the patient perspective. To address this gap and to better inform intervention design, we evaluated how transitions of care relate to and influence readmission from the patient and clinician perspective using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model. Study design Patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge after complex abdominal surgery were interviewed. A focus group of inpatient clinician providers was conducted. Questions were guided by the SEIPS framework and content was analyzed. Data were collected concurrently from the medical record for a mixed-methods approach. Results Readmission occurred a median of 8 days (range 1 to 25 days) after discharge. All patients had follow-up scheduled with their surgeon, but readmission occurred before this in 72% of patients. Primary readmission diagnoses included infection, gastrointestinal complications, and dehydration. Patients (n = 18) and clinician providers (n = 6) identified a number of factors during the transition of care that may have contributed to readmission, including poor patient and caregiver understanding; inadequate discharge preparation for home care; insufficient educational process and materials, negatively affected by electronic health record design; and inadequate care team communication. Conclusions This is the first study to use a human factors and systems engineering approach to evaluate the impact of the quality of the transition of care and its influence on readmission from the patient and clinician perspective. Important targets for future interventions include enhancing the discharge process, improving education materials, and increasing care team coordination, with the overarching theme that improved patient and caregiver understanding and engagement are essential to decrease readmission and postdischarge health care use.

The authors examined the development of diabetic retinopathy in a population-based cohort of persons with incident type 1 diabetes to investigate the possibility of lowered retinopathy prevalence and severity compared with previous US studies. A total of 474 diabetic persons from Wisconsin were followed from diagnosis through 4-14 years' duration during 1990-2002. Retinopathy was determined by fundus photography at 4, 7, 9, and 14 years' duration. Risk of developing retinopathy was modeled on demographic and diabetes-care characteristics by means of a generalized linear model using the complementary log-log link for interval-censored data. Prevalence of retinopathy increased with duration of diabetes, from 6% at 4 years to 73% at 14 years, and was highest among adults (> or =20 years of age). Risk of developing retinopathy increased with increasing duration, worse glycemic control, and age up to 20 years. Indicators of diabetes care were related to retinopathy through their effect on glycemic control. Improvements in diabetes care leading to better glycemic control may have contributed to the much lower prevalence and less severe retinopathy observed than expected on the basis of a previous report from the same region of Wisconsin. The observed decreased prevalence has important implications for persons with type 1 diabetes, since retinopathy is a serious microvascular complication.

A unique semiautomated border detection program (BDP) designed for use on a personal computer was evaluated to determine whether: (1) carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements were bioequivalent to a reference laboratory; and (2) it would allow a novice (NOV) reader with no medical training to accurately and reproducibly measure CIMT.Far-wall CIMT was measured blindly and in duplicate by an experienced and NOV reader using BDP and by a reference laboratory.Mean CIMT using BDP was bioequivalent to the reference laboratory (two 1-sided T-test, P.05) with small absolute differences (experienced 0.011 +/- 0.004 mm, NOV 0.022 +/- 0.004 mm). Reproducibility was high, with small coefficients of variation when used by either the experienced (3.1%) or NOV (7.8%) reader.CIMT measurements using BDP were accurate and reproducible. It was mastered easily by a NOV reader and appeared suitable for use in an office setting.

OBJECTIVE—To determine the risk of frequent and severe hypoglycemia and the associated demographic and clinical risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Demographic and diabetes self-management factors were measured in 415 subjects followed prospectively for 4–6.5 years of type 1 diabetes duration as participants in a population-based incident cohort. Blood samples were collected up to three times yearly to test glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) levels. Reports of frequent (2–4 times/week) and severe (lost consciousness) hypoglycemia as well as other diabetes self-management data were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS—Frequent hypoglycemia was common (33 and 35% of participants reported this on the 4- and 6.5-year questionnaires, respectively), whereas severe hypoglycemia occurred much less often. Better glycemic control (odds ratio [OR] 1.3 per 2% decrease in GHb, 95% CI 1.1–1.5) and more frequent self-monitored blood glucose (1.5 per blood glucose check, 1.3–1.7) were independently related to frequent hypoglycemia. The association of frequent hypoglycemia with intensive insulin therapy increased with age. Better glycemic control (1.5 per 2% decrease in GHb, 1.2–2.0) and older age were related to severe hypoglycemic reactions. No sociodemographic factors other than age increased the risk of hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS—Frequent hypoglycemia was common in a population representing the full range of glycemic control in the community. Intensive insulin management and blood glucose monitoring independently predicted frequent but not severe hypoglycemia. This information may be useful for updating patients such that minor changes in diabetes management might decrease the daily burden of this condition while maintaining intensive insulin therapy.

When estimating long-term glycemic control, A1C is considered the gold standard (1–3), but patients with seemingly equivalent A1C differ in their risk for microvascular complications (4,5). Recently, the “glycation gap,” defined as the difference between the measured A1C and that which would be predicted from another measure of glycemic control, fructosamine, has been proposed as a means of identifying sources of variance in the apparent risk (6). Because hemoglobin is an intracellular protein and fructosamine reflects extracellular proteins, the glycation gap could result from differences between the ambient glucose concentrations or rates of glycation in the intracellular and extracellular compartments or interindividual differences in the turnover/metabolism of underlying proteins (6). In this study, we sought to determine whether there are differences in the relationship of GHb to fructosamine in diabetic subjects who do or do not develop retinopathy. The present study was completed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study (WDRS), an incident type 1 diabetes cohort followed for complications over 4–14 years’ duration. The WDRS has been described previously (7). New fructosamine testing was completed in 86 subjects who were identified among 290 with fundus photographs at 9 years. Patients with retinopathy ( n = 13), patients with missing photographs indicating no retinopathy ( n = 38) at 4 years or missing GHb or random glucose at 4 and/or 9 years ( n = 118), and patients having insufficient plasma for testing fructosamine at the 4-year exam ( n = 35) were excluded. Of the 86 eligible patients, 2 with fructosamine concentrations >1,000 μmol/l were omitted. …

The authors investigate the postonset hospitalization rate and risk factors during 1987-1994 in Wisconsin, in a population-based, incidence cohort followed from diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus at ages 0-29 (n = 577). The overall rate was 8.9 +/- 0.60 (standard error) per 100 person-years of diabetes, whereof 5.7 was due to hyperglycemia, 1.9 to hypoglycemia, and 1.3 to other and undetermined causes. Major risk factors for hospitalization were longitudinally measured glycosylated hemoglobin level (rate ratio = 1.5 per 2% increase, 95% confidence interval 1.4-1.7), black/other race (rate ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.0-3.6), diagnosis in a non-university-based setting (rate ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2-3.2), female sex (rate ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.0-2.4 at age 11), age in males (rate ratio = 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.8 per 5-year increase), and public or no insurance up to 18 months postdiagnosis (rate ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.4). For individuals less than 18 years, "black/other race" was replaced in the model by "having other than two biologic parents in the home" (rate ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.5). Hence, hospitalization is common in children, adolescents, and young adults with diabetes, primarily for problems with glycemic control.

OBJECTIVE—Increased pulse pressure has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in individuals with diabetes. Changes in central aortic properties can increase central pulse pressure and may adversely affect microvascular perfusion and cardiac performance. This study was performed to define early changes in central arterial properties in a group of young individuals with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH AND DESIGN METHODS—Seventeen individuals with type 1 diabetes and their nondiabetic control subjects who were participating in the Cardio-Diab Study had arterial stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics measured with calibrated tonometry and pulsed Doppler. Aortic characteristic impedance (Zc) was calculated from the ratio of change in carotid pressure and aortic flow in early systole. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed from tonometry and body surface measurements. RESULTS—Duration of type 1 diabetes was 15.3 ± 0.7 (mean ± SD) years. In type 1 diabetic subjects, central pulse pressure was elevated (45 ± 11 vs. 36 ± 10 mmHg in control subjects, P = 0.02), as was peripheral pulse pressure (54 ± 13 vs. 43 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.002). Zc was elevated in type 1 diabetes (179 ± 57 vs. 136 ± 42 dynes × s/cm5 in control subjects, P = 0.004), whereas PWV was not different (5.9 ± 0.9 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 m/s in type 1 diabetic vs. control subjects, respectively; NS). There was a moderate correlation between Zc and urinary albumin excretion (coefficient 0.39, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS—Zc appears to be increased early in type 1 diabetes, before elevation of PWV and is associated with higher pulse pressure, which may contribute to renal microvascular damage in diabetes.

We have developed a novel, semiautomated carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) border detection program (AUTO) and evaluated its measurement reproducibility and accuracy. Images from 6 carotid segments were acquired in 50 subjects, for a total of 300 segments. Mean and maximum CIMT values were measured blindly at a reference (REF) lab and in duplicate by experienced (EXP) and novice (NOV) readers using manual (MAN) and AUTO methods. Coefficients of variation for AUTO measurements of mean (3.2%) and maximum (4.1%) CIMT were low, and the AUTO method improved the NOV reader's reproducibility. Compared with the REF lab, mean (0.012 +/- 0.006 mm) and maximum (0.144 +/- 0.006 mm) CIMT biases were small and equivalent to those of the REF lab ( P < .001). The AUTO method shortened reading times by 35% to 46% ( P < .001). We conclude that our novel AUTO CIMT measurement program improved reproducibility and was accurate. Compared with MAN tracing, the AUTO method agreed better with the REF lab and decreased reading time.

Care for type 1 diabetes mellitus should both alleviate the physical complications of the disease and improve overall quality of life. The Wisconsin Diabetes Registry, comprising a population-based cohort that is followed longitudinally from diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, provided the authors with a unique opportunity to examine quality of life in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and its relation to both sociodemographic and clinical risk factors. The authors analyzed data from 1987–2002 with a mean of 10.2 years’ duration of diabetes (n = 569). They used ordinal-scaled self-rated global health as a measure of quality of life. In this paper, they propose a random-effects model for drawing inferences on individuals regarding the relation of longitudinally measured quality of life to multiple risk factors. Results showed that male gender, higher parental socioeconomic level, younger age at diabetes diagnosis, shorter diabetes duration, no hospitalization in the preceding 6 months, lower glycosylated hemoglobin level, and questionnaire responses by a person other than the subject were independently associated with better reported health. The authors found that individuals varied in their reported health even after adjustment for all identified risk factors. This could imply either that there is variability in perception even with the same health status or that there are independent unmeasured risk factors for poor health in persons with type 1 diabetes. adolescent; child; diabetes mellitus, type I; health; longitudinal studies; quality of life; risk factors

Purpose Type 1 diabetes is a known risk factor for hypertension; however, there are no population-based longitudinal data on blood pressure during the first 10 years of diabetes. A Wisconsin population-based incident cohort with type 1 diabetes was followed for up to 10 years from 1987 to 2001 to examine (i) whether blood pressure levels are increased in diabetes compared with individuals of similar age in the general population and (ii) whether diabetes duration and glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) levels are associated with elevated blood pressure in early diabetes. Methods Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (outcome), and demographic, medical, and anthropomorphic data were collected with physical exams (conducted at 4–6 months and at 4, 7, and 9 years duration), phone questionnaires at enrollment, and semiannual self-administered questionnaires. Age at diagnosis (exposure) was determined from medical records. Total GHb (exposure) was determined from blood samples collected up to three times each year. Multivariable random-effects regression modeling was used for the analysis. Results Data were available on 525 individuals (1326 observations), ranging in age from 1 to 40 years. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were similar across the age range in individuals with diabetes and the general population sample from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Regression analysis showed that diastolic blood pressure increased with duration for all age groups except young adults, and systolic blood pressure increased with duration in the youngest age group. GHb was not related to blood pressure. Conclusion These data suggest that differences in blood pressure between individuals with and without type 1 diabetes are small during the first 10 years of disease; however, the increase in blood pressure with duration may be an early indicator of the effect of diabetes on blood pressure.