title: Diabetes management by hospital-affiliated diabetes centres in Lazio, Italy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology ASL RME, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saitto
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arcà
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Perucci
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin