Quality and effectiveness of diabetes care for a group of patients in Colombia Calidad y eficacia de la atención a diabéticos en un grupo de pacientes de Colombia

• Main Authors: Jorge E. Machado-Alba, Juan C. Moncada-Escobar, Henry Gaviria
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish; Portuguese
• Published: Pan American Health Organization 2009
• Subjects: Diabetes mellitus; efectividad; calidad de la atención de salud; Colombia; effectiveness; quality of health care; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/29f9a31b325047eb81eedd6c7ead5ca8

OBJECTIVE: To assess quality and effectiveness of diabetes care in a sample of Colombian diabetes patients treated by the national social security health system (SGSSS). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among 19 704 type 2 diabetes patients >30 years old who were SGSSS members, on pharmacological therapy, and treated at least twice by the SGSSS diabetes control program in one of nine cities from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. A random sample of 406 was obtained. Using subjects' clinical history, the following factors were assessed: use of antidiabetic drugs and prescribed daily doses; use of antithrombotic therapies; additional medications; level and control of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, and cholesterol; urine albumin level; retinal and foot condition; and changes in medical regimens at most recent clinic visit. RESULTS: Annual risk factor testing rates were high (81.5%, HbA1c; 100%, blood pressure; 76.8%, total cholesterol), and a large proportion of patients were at target levels for HbA1c (42.9% <7.0%), blood pressure (66.2% <130/80 mmHg), and serum lipids (44.9% total cholesterol <200 mg/dL). However, only 6.9% were within recommended levels for all three risk factors. At most recent clinic visit, pharmaceutical regimens were adjusted for 39.7%, 58.2%, and 42.5% of patients above HbA1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol target levels, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite high testing rates, metabolic control was not effective. Low rates of medication adjustment among patients with measures outside target ranges suggest the need for changes in routine diabetes care to ensure therapeutic regimens are adjusted appropriately. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la calidad y la eficacia de la atención de la diabetes en una muestra de diabéticos colombianos tratados en el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS). MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo en 19 704 pacientes del SGSSS con tratamiento farmacológico para la diabetes tipo 2, mayores de 30 años y atendidos por el Programa de ...