| Dr. Sharma had previously blogged about the | | | | screening (72% vs 65%) and HbA(1c) testing |
| problem of weight bias amongst health | | | | (74% vs 62%). |
| professionals and how this can possibly lead to | | | | Obese patients were also more likely to receive |
| poorer health care for people with excess weight. | | | | pneumococcal vaccinations (53% vs. 49%). |
| A new study by Virginia Chang and colleagues | | | | In fact, there was no measure in which obese |
| from the University of Pennsylvania, just published | | | | people were less likely to receive care compared |
| in the Journal of the American Medical Association | | | | to people with normal weight. |
| (JAMA) suggests that the quality of health care | | | | Of course, this study says nothing about attitudes |
| may not necessarily be worse for obese people | | | | or bias amongst health care professionals, which |
| compared to normal weight folks. | | | | continues to be a concern, and it should perhaps |
| The reserachers examined eight different | | | | be noted that the patients in both of these data |
| performance measures in two US national-level | | | | bases tend to be older. |
| patient populations: (1) Medicare beneficiaries (n = | | | | While the authors interpret these findings as |
| 36 122) and (2) recipients of care from the | | | | evidence that perhaps more attention is now |
| Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (n = 33 | | | | being paid to health in people presenting with |
| 550). | | | | excess weight, they also suggest that previous |
| The performance measures included diabetes | | | | reports on poorer care for obesity may in part |
| care (eye examination, glycated hemoglobin | | | | be due to self-reported recall biases in |
| [HbA(1c)] testing, and lipid screening), | | | | retrospective studies. |
| pneumococcal vaccination, influenza vaccination, | | | | Dr. Sharma wonders what his readers think about |
| screening mammography, colorectal cancer | | | | this issue: any personal stories or anecdotes are |
| screening, and cervical cancer screening. | | | | most welcome. |
| Based on these data, the researchers found no | | | | About Dr. Sharma: |
| evidence that obese or overweight patients were | | | | Dr. Sharma has authored and co-authored more |
| less likely to receive recommended care relative | | | | than 250 scientific articles and has lectured widely |
| to normal-weight patients. | | | | on the etiology and management of obesity and |
| In fact, comparing obese vs normal-weight | | | | related cardiovascular disorders. He sends his |
| patients with diabetes, obese patients were more | | | | informative messages through his blog Dr. |
| likely to receive recommended care on lipid | | | | Sharma's Obesity Notes. |