Quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care in Norway is improving. Results of cross-sectional surveys of 33 general practices in 1995 and 2005
- John Graham Cooper, MD (john.cooper{at}isf.uib.no)1,
- Tor Claudi, MD2,
- Anne Karen Jenum, PhD3,
- Geir Thue, PhD4,
- Marie Fjelde Hausken1,
- Wibeche Ingskog3 and
- Sverre Sandberg, PhD4
- 1Department of Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, PO box 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway
- 2Department of Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
- 3Oslo Diabetes Research Centre, Aker University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway
- 4The Norwegian Quality Improvement of Laboratory Services in Primary Care (NOKLUS), Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Abstract
Objective: To assess changes in the quality of care in Norway for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Research design and methods: Two cross-sectional surveys that identified all patients (n = 1470 in 1995, n = 2699 in 2005) with type 2 diabetes attending 33 general practices.
Results: Between 1995 and 2005 there were significant improvements in the proportion of patients for whom important laboratory analyses, smoking habits, height, weight and referral to eye examination were recorded. Mean HbA1c declined from 7.74 to 7.15%, mean systolic blood pressure declined from 150.0 to 140.4 mmHg and mean cholesterol declined from 6.28 to 5.0 mmol/l (p<0.001, age and gender adjusted). The 10 year risk for coronary heart disease for an average male patient declined from 42 to 29%.
Conclusion: There have been substantial improvements in type 2 diabetes primary care in Norway that are potentially related to major improvements in health outcomes
Footnotes
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- Received March 25, 2008.
- Accepted September 30, 2008.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
