Healthcare fragmentation and cardiovascular risk control among older cancer survivors in the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death among 5-year cancer survivors. Survivors see many providers and poor coordination may contribute to worse CVD risk factor control. We sought to determine associations between fragmentation and CVD risk factor control among survivors overall and by self-rated health.

Methods

We included REGARDS participants aged 66+ years who (1) had a cancer history; (2) reported diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia; and (3) had continuous Medicare coverage. Twelve-month ambulatory care fragmentation was calculated using the Bice-Boxerman Index (BBI). We determined associations between fragmentation and CVD risk factors, defining "control" as fasting glucose < 126 mg/dL or non-fasting glucose < 200 mg/dL for diabetes;

SUBMITTER: Pinheiro LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7937763 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature