Diabetes and cancer screening rates among appalachian and non-appalachian residents of Kentucky

Steven T. Fleming, Margaret M. Love, Keisa Bennett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Having diabetes may increase the odds of late-stage breast cancer. In Kentucky, the rates of late-stage disease are higher in rural than in urban areas, particularly in rural Appalachia. The objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between diabetes and cancer screening and to determine whether Appalachia residence modifies this association. Methods: One thousand thirty Kentucky adults responded to a 2008 telephone survey that measured whether they had diabetes; lived in Appalachia; had guideline-concordant screening for breast (mammogram, clinical breast examination), cervical (Papanicolaou), and colorectal (fecal occult blood test or sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy) cancer; and whether they reported receiving mammograms regularly every 1 to 2 years. Results: Of the subjects, 16% had diabetes, 21% were Appalachian, and 32% were men. In multivariate analysis, women with diabetes had about half the odds of "regular" mammography screening (odds ratio, 0.56) compared with those without diabetes. Men and women in Appalachia had about half the odds of colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy within the past 10 years (odds ratio, 0.54) compared with those living outside Appalachia. Conclusions: Both having diabetes and living in Appalachia were negatively associated with current and regular cancer screening. Less screening may explain late-stage diagnosis among these populations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)682-692
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Volume24
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Appalachia
  • Cancer screening
  • Diabetes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Family Practice

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Diabetes and cancer screening rates among appalachian and non-appalachian residents of Kentucky'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this