The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP): What the New Variables Are Telling Us about Outcomes

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began requiring organizations recognized through the National DPP Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP) to collect new information from participants at the time of enrollment: referral source (ENROLL), payer source (PAYER), and highest level of completed education (EDU). Of the 354,616 participants who enrolled in, and had the opportunity to complete, the National DPP lifestyle change program as of October 2020, analyses were restricted to the 63,598 who enrolled from March 2018 through February 2019 to ensure that information was complete. With respect to referral source, participants who decided on their own to enroll (option of “self”), or who reported the option of “primary care provider/office or specialist”, attended the most sessions on average (17.6 and 17.5 sessions, respectively). The least number of sessions attended (mean of 13.7) was associated with those who reported the option of “employer or employer’s wellness program.” While most participants reported a PAYER option of “private insurer”, they attended a mean of 14.2 sessions. The mean number of sessions attended by those reporting a PAYER of “Medicare” was 19.2. College graduates reported attending the most sessions, on average, 15.1, yet 50% attended at least 12. Fifty percent of those with less than a high school education attended at least 15 sessions. With respect to mean weight loss % and referral source, the highest (5.6%) was achieved by those who chose the ENROLL option of “media.” Those who chose “employer or employer’s wellness program” lost the least, 3.7%. When stratified by PAYER, those who chose “Medicare” lost the most weight (6.9% on average). Level of education did not have much impact on mean weight loss with a range of 4% to 4.5% across the four options. The collection of this additional information provides important insights into who is currently meeting programmatic goals. Disclosure E. Ely: None. M. Bell: None.