190-LB: Exploring the Relationships between HbA1c Levels and Diabetes Care through NHANES Data, 2007–2016

Objective: To examine the relationships between diabetes care measures and HbA1c levels through analyzing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data between 2007 and 2016. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved subjective and objective data obtained from the CDC NHANES website. Data was then analyzed by STATA14 with ordered logistic regression models, controlling for age, race, gender, health insurance coverage. Subjective data included participants’ answers to the general and diabetes-related questionnaires, and the objective data was their HbA1c levels at the time of the interview/standardized clinical examination. Results: Three of the eight regression analysis models showed statistically significant associations between HbA1c levels and identified diabetes care questions. Conclusion: The levels of HbA1c in people with diabetes were associated with how long ago the participant checked-in with a diabetes specialist, whether having a doctor for diabetes care or not, and how often the participant saw a doctor within a year before the NHANES interview/examination. These findings suggest that connecting with healthcare professionals (Questions 1 - 3) showed significant relationships with HbA1c levels, but the same relationships were not observed between receiving or performing the actual diabetes care measures (Questions 4 - 8) and HbA1c levels. Disclosure C.F. Young: None. H.E. Velasco: None.