Characteristics of an Italian diabetic population and long-term changes in glycaemic control at varying body weight categories.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of a diabetic population in a primary care setting, and to evaluate changes in glycaemic control at varying body weight categories.


METHODS
We collected 4,610 valid baseline and three years follow-up paired data sheets sent from 77% of the general practitioners adhering to our shared-care program (257 GPs out of 521) for people with type 2 diabetes. Three conventional body weight categories were defined: "normal" (BMI, < or = 25 kg/m2), "overweight" (BMI 25.0-29.9), "obesity" (BMI > or = 30). According to weight status we calculated descriptive statistics and follow-up paired changes.


RESULTS
A fifth of the diabetic patients had a "normal" BMI, about 45% was "overweight" and 34% was "obese". At follow-up, the glycaemic control significantly improved both in "normal" and "overweight" people, while it significantly worsened in "obese" ones.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm the crucial role played by body weight and its changes in diabetic patients.
Ciardullo
Anna V
AV
Centre for the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Health Care (CEVEAS), Modena. a.ciardullo@ausl.mo.it
Daghio
Maria M
MM
Brunetti
Massimo
M
Bevini
Massimo
M
Daya
Ghassan
G
Feltri
Gaetano
G
Novi
Doriano
D
Goldoni
Carlo A
CA
Magrini
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015984:Causality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D012044:Regression Analysis
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin