Time to pharmacotherapy change in response to elevated HbA1c test results.
OBJECTIVE
This study describes the clinical management of type 2 diabetes among a cohort of patients receiving oral antidiabetic monotherapy.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted within an integrated Midwestern health system that included all individuals receiving oral antidiabetic monotherapy during the period June 1, 1999 to November 30, 2002 (n = 9335). Among patients with elevated hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) test result(s), Kaplan-Meier estimates of median time until pharmacotherapy change were calculated.


RESULTS
Among the 8068 patients who had > or = 1 HbA(1c) measurement during the study period, 21.4% were at goal (i.e. HbA(1c) < 7%). Among patients with at least one elevated test result (> or = 7%), the median time to pharmacotherapy change following an HbA(1c) test result of between 7-10% was just over 1 year (372 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 358-393 days) and 160 days for patients with HbA(1c) > 10%. Among patients with at least two elevated tests, the median time to pharmacotherapy change was 275 days from the second test result of between 7-10%, and 70 days among patients with a second HbA(1c) > 10%. The median time between HbA(1c) testing was 166 days overall, and 154 days among patients with at least one elevated result.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the known benefits of glycemic control among patients with diabetes, the time between elevated HbA(1c) results and pharmacotherapy change exceeds 12 months for those with HbA(1c) test results between 7-10% and 9 months for those with results over 10%.
Yood
Marianne Ulcickas
MU
EpiSource, 275 Blue Trail, Hamden, CT 06518, USA. muyood@muyood.com
Lafata
Jennifer Elston
JE
Koro
Carol
C
Wells
Karen E
KE
Pladevall
Manel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents