title: Association between socioeconomic status, type 2 diabetes and its chronic complications in Argentina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the socioeconomic status (SES) of people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Argentina (Córdoba) with and without major chronic complications of diabetes, with that recorded in persons without diabetes matched by age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this descriptive and analytic case-control study, potential candidates were identified from the electronic records of one institution of the Social Security System of the city of Córdoba. We identified and recruited 387 persons each with T2DM with or without chronic complications and 774 gender- and age-matched persons without T2DM (recruitment rate, 83%). Data were obtained by telephone interviews and supplemented with data from the institution's records. Group comparisons were performed with parametric or non-parametric tests as appropriate. We used ordinary least squares to regress household income and the difference between income and household expenses on diabetes status, age, sex, education and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persons with T2DM, particularly those with complications, reported fewer years of general education (13.6±4.2 years vs. 12.2±4.4 years), a lower percentage of full time jobs (43.0% vs. 26.9%), lower salaries and monthly household income among those with full-time jobs (> 5000 ARG$: 52.6% vs. 24.5%), and a higher propensity to spend more money than they earned (expenditure/income ratio≥1: 10.2% vs. 16.0%). The percentage of unmarried people was also higher among people with type 2 diabetes (7.0% vs. 10.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2DM and the development of its complications are each positively associated with lower SES and greater economic distress in Argentina.
authors.affiliation: CENEXA - Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Diabetes), National University of La Plata School of Medicine, La Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: jelgart@cenexa.org.
authors.forename: Jorge F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Elgart
authors.affiliation: CENEXA - Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Diabetes), National University of La Plata School of Medicine, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Joaquín E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Caporale
authors.affiliation: CENEXA - Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Diabetes), National University of La Plata School of Medicine, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asteazarán
authors.affiliation: Hospital Privado - Centro Médico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: De La Fuente
authors.affiliation: Hospital Privado - Centro Médico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camilluci
authors.affiliation: CENEXA - Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Diabetes), National University of La Plata School of Medicine, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: CENEXA - Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (National University of La Plata-National Research Council, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Diabetes), National University of La Plata School of Medicine, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gagliardino
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chronic complications; Diabetes costs in Argentina; Socioeconomic status; Type 2 diabetes