Impact of Primary Care–Based Disease Management on the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbidity
- Dominik Ose, MPH1,
- Michel Wensing, PHD1,2,
- Joachim Szecsenyi, MD, MSC1,
- Stefanie Joos, MD1,
- Katja Hermann, MSC1 and
- Antje Miksch, MD1
- 1Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany;
- 2Scientific Institute for Quality Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
- Corresponding author: Dominik Ose, dominik.ose{at}med.uni-heidelberg.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the effectiveness of the German diabetes disease management program (DMP) for patients with varying numbers of other medical conditions with respect to their health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A questionnaire, including the HRQoL-measured EQ-5D, was mailed to a random sample of 3,546 patients with type 2 diabetes (59.3% female). The EQ-5D score was analyzed by grouping patients according to those on a DMP and those receiving routine care.
RESULTS The analysis showed that participation in the DMP (P < 0.001), the number of other medical conditions (P < 0.001), and the interaction between the DMP and the number of other conditions (P < 0.05) had a significant impact on the EQ-5D score.
CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the number of other medical conditions may have a negative impact on the HRQoL of patients with type 2 diabetes. The results demonstrate that the German DMP for type 2 diabetes may help counterbalance this effect.
Footnotes
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The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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- Received December 14, 2008.
- Accepted June 3, 2009.
