Diabetes management by hospital-affiliated diabetes centres in Lazio, Italy.
BACKGROUND
In Italy, diabetes centres are considered to provide adequate care but little is known about their performance.


METHODS
Inpatient and outpatient administrative databases were used to select and study a cohort of 2,568 diabetic patients. Adherence to guidelines and effect of patient characteristics and diabetes centre on treatment was assessed. Mortality rate was calculated.


RESULTS
Patients averaged 9.3 outpatient visits per year. Each patient received a mean of 21.8 ambulatory services per year but only 2.21 Haemoglobin A1C tests, and only 0.56 procedures suggested by the guidelines. Diabetes management depended mainly on the care centre. A mortality rate of 6.9 per hundred person-years was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospital-affiliated centres do not ensure adequate diabetes management.
Petrelli
Alessio
A
Department of Epidemiology ASL RME, Roma, Italy.
Saitto
Carlo
C
Arcà
Massimo
M
Perucci
Carlo A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin