Preliminary Validation of a Patient-based Self-assessment Measure of Severity of Illness in Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the Pilot Phase of the Veterans Health Study.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2005
Keywords
Aged, Boston, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Outcome Assessment (Health Care), Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Severity of Illness Index, Veterans
Publication Title
The Journal of ambulatory care management
Abstract
Measures of case mix are needed to control for patients' clinical status in studies assessing the process and outcomes of care. The Veterans Health Study (VHS) is a longitudinal study of determinants of health outcomes in ambulatory veterans. This study assessed the validity of a case-mix measure developed to quantify severity of illness in ambulatory type 2 diabetic patients. As part of the pilot phase of the VHS, 245 veterans using 4 primary care clinics in Boston were screened for diabetes and 5 other chronic illnesses when they presented for care. Subjects screening positive for diabetes returned to complete severity of illness and outcome measures. The variables for the diabetes case-mix module were chosen based upon the principles of parsimony, duration of follow-up, and clinical validity and credibility. Variables were selected to predict function, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36). The diabetic patients in this study had a heavy burden of chronic illness, with an average of 3.9 comorbid conditions and a mean general health perceptions score of 48 on the SF-36 (scored from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating best health). A summary variable called DMSEV was created for "diabetes severity". This included atherosclerotic complications(stroke, transient ischemic attack or myocardial infarction; chest pain frequency; and claudication), plus any history of eye, foot, or neuropathic symptoms. DMSEV correlated with all 8 outcome scales of the SF-36, and in particular was highly associated with physical function (r=0.49, P=.0001). Least squares linear regression analysis controlling for age and comorbidity confirmed the association of DMSEV with all 8 SF-36 scales. The correlation with physical function remained highly significant (P
Recommended Citation
Linzer, M., Pierce, C., Lincoln, E., Miller, D. R., Payne, S. M., Clark, J. A., . . . Kazis, L. E. (2005). Preliminary validation of a patient-based self-assessment measure of severity of illness in type 2 diabetes: Results from the pilot phase of the veterans health study. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 28(2), 167-176.
