Metabolic control and quality of data in medical records for subjects with type 2 diabetes in Swedish primary care: improvement between 1995 and 2001.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the registering of diabetic complications and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects in primary health care in 1995 and 2001.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional surveys of medical records.

SETTING

Two primary health care centres in Stockholm County.

SUBJECTS

Diabetic patients aged 35-64 years; in 1995, 59 men and 42 women and in 2001, 80 men and 80 women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Rate of notified examinations in medical records, diabetic complications and metabolic control.

RESULTS

Increased rates between 1995 and 2001 were found regarding examinations for neuropathy (46% vs 79%), albuminuria (74% vs 91%), micro-albuminuria (11% vs 59%), BMI (33% vs 66%), HbA1c (88% vs 99%), cholesterol (69% vs 92%) and LDL cholesterol (42% vs 89%) (p < 0.001). Increased rates of perceived treatment goals between 1995 and 2001 were found regarding HbA1c (< 6.5%) (28% vs 57%) and cholesterol (< 5.0 mmol/l) (23% vs 36%) (p < 0.001), and also regarding LDL cholesterol (30% vs 36%) (p < 0.01). In men, the number of subjects with any macrovascular complication decreased between 1995 and 2001 (34% vs 17%) (p < 0.01), and in women the number of subjects with coronary heart disease decreased (26% vs 6%) (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Documented examination rates and metabolic control improved between 1995 and 2001.