Validity and Reliability of Self-reported Diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the validity of prevalent and incident self-reported diabetes compared with multiple reference definitions and to assess the reliability (repeatability) of a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes. Data from 10,321 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study who attended visit 4 (1996-1998) were analyzed. Prevalent self-reported diabetes was compared with reference definitions defined by fasting glucose and medication use obtained at visit 4. Incident self-reported diabetes was assessed during annual follow-up telephone calls and was compared with reference definitions defined by fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and medication use obtained during an in-person visit attended by a subsample of participants (n = 1,738) in 2004-2005. The sensitivity of prevalent self-reported diabetes ranged from 58.5% to 70.8%, and specificity ranged from 95.6% to 96.8%, depending on the reference definition. Similarly, the sensitivity of incident self-reported diabetes ranged from 55.9% to 80.4%, and specificity ranged from 84.5% to 90.6%. Percent positive agreement of self-reported diabetes during 9 years of repeat assessments ranged from 92.7% to 95.4%. Both prevalent self-reported diabetes and incident self-reported diabetes were 84%-97% specific and 55%-80% sensitive as compared with reference definitions using glucose and medication criteria. Self-reported diabetes was >92% reliable over time.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kws156

Authors: A. L. C. Schneider, J. S. Pankow, G. Heiss, E. Selvin

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: University of Minnesota, Johns Hopkins University, National Institutes of Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

OpenAlex ID: W2137516741