Study Reveals Language Preference Affects Continuous Glucose Monitor Prescriptions

Recent research has identified significant disparities in the prescription rates of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) based on their language preferences. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, indicate that adults who prefer non-English languages face greater barriers to receiving CGM prescriptions compared to their English-speaking counterparts.

The study, conducted by a team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, analyzed data from over 69,000 T2D patients who received care between January 2022 and December 2023. Researchers categorized patients based on their language preference as either non-English language preference (NELP) or English language preference (ELP) using the language field in their electronic health records. The primary focus of the study was to compare the rates of CGM prescriptions between these two groups.

Out of the total cohort, approximately 12.1% of the patients identified as having NELP. Overall, only 12.2% of the entire group had received at least one CGM prescription. However, the data revealed a concerning trend: only 7.4% of patients with NELP were prescribed a CGM, compared to 12.7% of those with ELP. This disparity was further supported by adjusted analyses, which indicated that NELP patients were significantly less likely to receive a CGM prescription, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.58.

The study also included sensitivity analyses focusing on specific subgroups, such as patients with uncontrolled diabetes (defined as having a hemoglobin A1c level greater than 9%) and those using insulin. The disparities persisted in these groups, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.59 and 0.70, respectively, highlighting a consistent trend of lower CGM access for NELP patients.

The authors of the study emphasized the critical impact of language preference on the prescription patterns of CGMs, suggesting that healthcare providers need to be more aware of these disparities to ensure equitable access to diabetes management tools.

Additionally, some researchers involved in the study disclosed potential conflicts of interest, including industry ties and related patents.

For more detailed information, the full study is available in the JAMA Network Open journal.