{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Change in testing for blood glucose during the COVID-19 pandemic, United States 2019-2021.
{Author}: Miyamoto Y;Saelee R;Koyama AK;Zaganjor I;Xu F;Onufrak S;Pavkov ME;
{Journal}: Diabetes Res Clin Pract
{Volume}: 205
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2023 Nov
{Factor}: 8.18
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110985
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study assessed changes in testing for blood glucose in the United States (US) from 2019 to 2021.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis of the 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey by including adults aged ≥ 18 years without reported diagnosed diabetes. We estimated the prevalence of testing for blood glucose within 12 months and the difference in the testing prevalence between 2019 and 2021.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The study sample included 82,594 respondents without diabetes in 2019--2021, with a mean age between 46.4 and 46.8 years. Overall, the prevalence of testing for blood glucose decreased significantly from 64.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 63.3 %, 65.1 %) in 2019 to 60.0 % (95 % CI 59.1 %, 60.9 %) in 2021. Among adults who met the United States Preventive Services Task Force's 2015 screening recommendation, the prevalence decreased from 73.4 % (95 % CI 72.2 %, 74.6 %) to 69.5 % (95 % CI 68.3 %, 70.6 %). Although decreases in testing were observed in most groups, the extent of the decline differed by subgroups.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Testing for blood glucose decreased in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have delayed diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes and diabetes, underscoring the importance of continued access to diabetes screening during pandemics.