Ann S. Laramee|Nancy S. Morris|Benjamin Littenberg
Relationship of literacy and heart failure in adults with diabetes
Allen Hospital|University of Vermont Medical Center|University of Vermont|University of Vermont
although reading ability may impact educational strategies management heart failure hf prevalence limited literacy patients hf unknownsubjects drawn vermont diabetes information system field survey crosssectional study adults diabetes primary care participants selfreported characteristics subjected logistic regression estimate association heart failure literacy controlling social economic factors short test functional health literacy used measure literacyof 172 subjects hf diabetes 27 limited literacy compared 15 826 subjects without hf 205 95 ci 139 302 p 0001 adjusting age sex race income marital status health insurance hf continued significantly associated limited literacy 155 95 ci 100 241 p 05after adjusting education however hf longer independently associated literacy 131 95 ci 082 208 p 026over one quarter diabetic adults hf limited literacy although association longer statistically significant adjusted education clinicians aware many patients important limitations dealing written materials