title: Audit of a shared-care program for persons with diabetes: baseline and 3 annual follow-ups.
abstract: In Italy, data on shared-care programs for diabetes are lacking. We described the characteristics of type 2 diabetic population assisted in general practice and evaluated 3 years of follow-up outcomes and performance indicators in a shared-care program in Modena, Italy (1998-2001); only well-controlled diabetic patients were considered. Forty-nine percent of territorial GPs adhered to the project (257 out of 521) and 77% of them sent 6409 paired baseline and follow-up datasheets. Altogether, 97.8% patients had type 2 diabetes, mean age 68.6+/-11.7 years, disease duration 9.6+/-7.5 years, BMI 28.6+/-4.8 kg/m2, HbA(1c) 7.6%+/-1.6%, 16.1% of them were disabled. Among the non-disabled patients, 23.6% had optimal glycemic control (HbA(1c) < or =6.5%); at baseline the prevalence of micro- and macrovascular diabetic complications was: 8.2% microalbuminuria and 2.4% macroalbuminuria plus nephropathy, 11.0% nonproliferative and 3.0% preproliferative retinopathy, 7.0% neuropathy, 1.8% diabetic foot; 8.5% angina, 6.9% TIA or stroke, 6.3% infarction, 5.2% intermittent claudication, 4.1% heart failure. Among the disabled patients 27.9% had optimal glycemic control, but they had more diabetic complications. The performance indicators significantly improved over the 3-year study period: glycemic control indicators increased from 66%-75% to 83%-90% and micro- and macrovascular indicators from 59%-65% to 75%-81%. The outcome indicators also improved: mean HbA(1c) value changed from 7.6%+/-1.6% to 7.3%+/-1.3% and the percentage of people with HbA(1c)< or =6.5% significantly improved over time. Similar trends were observed in both disabled and non-disabled diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Healthcare (CeVEAS), AUSL Modena, Local Health Unit, Viale Muratori 201, I-41100, Modena, Italy. a.ciardullo@ausl.mo.it
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ciardullo
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Daghio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bevini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daya
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feltri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerzoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messori
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Magrini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team