Melissa Lamar|Robert S. Wilson|Lei Yu|Bryan D. James|Christopher C. Stewart|David A. Bennett|Patricia A. Boyle
Associations of literacy with diabetes indicators in older adults
Rush University Medical Center|Rush University|Rush University Medical Center|Rush University|Rush University Medical Center|Rush University|Rush University Medical Center|Rush University Medical Center|Rush University|Rush University Medical Center|Rush University|Rush University Medical Center
background literacy ability access understand utilise information concepts diverse sources ways promote good outcomes key successful ageing domainspecific health financial literacy particularly relevant older adults face increasingly complex health financial demands including related chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes therefore investigated associations literacy including health financial literacy diabetes indicators ie haemoglobin a1c blood glucose communitybased cohort study ageing methods participants 908 nondemented older adults age 81 years75 women rush memory aging project literacy measured using questions designed assess comprehension health financial information concepts yielded total score domainspecific health financial literacy scores nonfasting haemoglobin a1c blood glucose samples collected participants queried diabetes status medications diabetes visually inspected coded participants also underwent cognitive assessment medical history depressive symptom screening results separate multivariable linear regression models total p values lt003 health p values lt0009 literacy inversely associated haemoglobin a1c blood glucose levels adjusting age sex education hypertension global cognitive functioning depressive symptoms financial literacy inversely associated haemoglobin a1c levels adjusted models p004 sensitivity analyses conducted among individuals without diabetes revealed similar results conclusion lower literacy levels associated higher diabetes indicators particularly haemoglobin a1c suggestive longerterm glycaemic instability