[Polypharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes in daily clinical practice. A registry-based study in the county of Aarhus].
BACKGROUND
This study aims to describe the use and the level of HbA1c and furthermore, to describe the pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes in the County of Aarhus, Denmark.


METHODS
The County of Aarhus has a background population of 641,000 citizens. Data were collected from public data files for the period January 2000 to December 2000. Patients were classified as having type 2 diabetes if they were treated with diet alone, with antidiabetic tablets or, irrespective of treatment, if they were more than 40 years of age at time of diagnosis.


RESULTS
In a population of 10,431 type 2 diabetics, 86% had a HbA1c measurement. Mean HbA1c was 7.48% (95% CI 7.45%-7.51%). A description of drug therapy showed that 66% had purchased a prescription for antidiabetic drugs, 63% for antihypertensive drugs and 14% for lipid-lowering drugs. 8% had purchased prescriptions for antidiabetics as well as antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study it was found that a large proportion of type 2 diabetics have a HbA1c measurement and several type 2 diabetics have a poor glycemic regulation. Few had purchased prescriptions for antidiabetics as well as antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs and most after a long duration of diabetes. It is concluded that there are possibilities for improving treatment of type 2 patients and that registers easily can be established to monitor the quality of diabetes treatment.
Kristensen
Jette Kolding
JK
Institut for Almen Medicin, Aarhus Universitet, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, DK-8000 Arhus C. jkk@alm.au.dk
Lauritzen
Torsten
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003718:Denmark; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents