Diabetes Diagnosis and Medication by Gender

Introduction 

Diabetes is a non-communicable disease that cannot be cured but it can be controlled. Therefore, diabetic people need to learn to live with the disease. In 2015, it was estimated that approximately 30.3 million people had diabetes in USA (CDC, 2017). In addition, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in USA (CDC, 2017. The changes in lifestyle among other risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure is what contributes to the prevalence of diabetes in United States. Since women and males have different lifestyles, the risk of developing diabetes also varies across gender contributing to differences in the prevalence of diabetes in women and males. This study will determine if a positive linear relationship exists between women diagnosed with diabetes and under medication and males diagnosed with diabetes and under medication. 

Methods 

Overview 

This study attempts to estimate the relationship between women diagnosed with diabetes and under medication and males diagnosed with diabetes and under medication. The null hypothesis states that there is no statistically significant positive relationship exists between women and males diagnosed with diabetes and under medication.The alternative hypothesis states that a statistiscally significant positive realationship exists between women and males diagnosed with diabetes and under medication. A correlation test will be performed to determine the strength of association between diabetes diagnosis/medication and gender. Correlation analysis is used to measure the strength of linear assosicaiton between two variables. 

Data 

The data source for this analysis is Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Centre. The data was provided by Gateway Health Plan, Highmark Health and UPMC. The three health facilities are managed care organizations based in Allegheny County. The data set used in this analysis represent the insured population, the total population diagnosed by diabetes and total population receiving diabetes medication in Allegheny County for the calendar year 2015. 

Statistical Analysis 

The statistical package STATA (version 13.0) was used in this analysis. A correlation test between the number of women and males diagnosed with diabetes and under medication was preformed. 

Results and Discussion 

Correlation and Interpretations. 

Women and males diagnosed with diabetes 

The correlation coefficient between the women diagnosed with diabetes (BWAN) and males diagnosed with diabetes (BMAN) is shown in table (1). 

Table 1 

corr BWAN BMAN 

(obs=389) 

| BWAN BMAN 

-------------+------------------ 

BWAN | 1.0000 

BMAN | 0.9230 1.0000 

The coefficient of correlation is 0.9230. Since 0.9230 is positive it means that a positive relationship exists between women and males diagnosed with diabetes.If the number of males diagnosed with diabetes increases, the number of women diagnosed with diabetes also increases and vice versa. In addition, 0.9230 is closer to 1 than 0, it means a strong relationship exists between women diagnosed with diabetes and males diagnosed with diabetes. 

Women and males receiving diabetes medication. 

The correlation coefficient between women receiving diabetes medication (BWAN2) and males receiving diabetes medication (BMAN2) is shown in table (2) 

Table 2 

corr BWAN2 BMAN2 

(obs=389) 

| BWAN2 BMAN2 

-------------+------------------ 

BWAN2 | 1.0000 

BMAN2 | 0.8666 1.0000 

The coefficient of correlation is 0.8666.Since 0.8666 is positive, it means that a positive relationship exists beteween women and males receiving diabetes medication. If the number of males receiving diabetes medication increases, the number of women receiving diabetes medication also increases and vice versa.In addition, 0.8666 is closer to 1 than 0 , it means a strong relationship exists between wowen receiving medication and males receiving medication. 

Conclusions 

The results of the correlation test is positive so the null hypotheis is rejected.The data supports the alternative hypothesis that a statistiscally significant positive realationship exists between women and males diagnosed with diabetes and receiving medication. 

References 

Schroeder, L. D., Sjoquist, D. L., & Stephan, P. E. (2017).  Understanding regression analysis: An introductory guide . 

National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf