Quality assessment of diabetes care according to the recommendations of the St. Vincent Declaration: a population-based study in a rural area of Austria.

Using a mobile ambulance the quality of diabetes care was evaluated, according to the recommendations of the St. Vincent Declaration, in 95% of all known diabetic patients (n = 395) in a geographically defined rural area of Austria with 7871 inhabitants. Fourteen of the 395 patients had Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes with age at onset of diabetes below 30 years. Of the 375 patients examined (women 61%, age 66 +/- 13 years, median diabetes duration 6 years) 16% were treated with insulin and 47% with oral agents; HbA1c levels were 7.3 +/- 1.7%. Prevalence of known hypertension was 54%; 68% of these patients had their blood pressure uncontrolled (systolic greater than or equal to 160 and/or diastolic greater than or equal to 95 mmHg); a further 15% of patients with previously unknown hypertension had blood pressure values of greater than or equal to 160 and/or greater than or equal to 95 mmHg. Urinary albumin concentrations of greater than 200 mg/l were found in 15% of patients, 2% had a serum creatinine level of greater than 177 mumol/l, no patient had renal replacement therapy. Six patients (1.5%) were blind. Screening for retinopathy identified six patients (out of 317 in whom the retina could be evaluated) for whom consultation with an ophthalmologist as soon as possible was recommended. Of the total patient group (n = 395) 20 patients (5%) had foot complications (amputations and/or ulcers): 14 patients had a total of 21 lower limb amputations (eight above knee, six below knee, seven below ankle); eight of these 14 patients lived in a nursing home; 11 patients had a total of 13 foot ulcers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)