title: Association of age, sex and deprivation with quality indicators for diabetes: population-based cross sectional survey in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the quality of diabetes management in primary care after the publication of the National Service Framework and examine the impact of age, gender and deprivation on the achievement of established quality indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cross sectional survey using electronic general practice records carried out between June-October 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four practices in Wandsworth, South-West London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  6035 adult patients (> or =18 years) with diabetes from a total registered population of 201,572 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Success rates for the diabetes quality indicators within the General Medical Services contract for general practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified large variations in diabetes management between general practitioner practices with poorer recording of quality care in younger patients (18-44 years). In addition, younger patients had a worse cholesterol and glycaemia profile, although hypertension was more common in older patients. Gender and deprivation did not appear to be important determinants of the quality of care received.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are large variations in diabetes management between general practitioner practices, with care seemingly worse for younger adults. Longitudinal studies are required to determine whether current UK quality improvement initiatives have been successful in attenuating existing variations in care and treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Wandsworth Primary Care Research Centre, London SW11 6HN.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millett
authors.forename: Caoimhe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Rumana Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Azeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majeed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors