Quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care in Norway is improving: results of cross-sectional surveys of 33 general practices in 1995 and 2005.
OBJECTIVE
To assess changes in the quality of care in Norway for patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional surveys were examined that identified all patients (n = 1,470 in 1995 and n = 2,699 in 2005) with type 2 diabetes attending 33 general practices in 1995 and 2005.


RESULTS
Between 1995 and 2005, there were significant improvements in the proportion of patients for whom important laboratory analyses, smoking habits, height, weight, and referral to eye examination were recorded. Mean A1C declined from 7.74 to 7.15%, systolic blood pressure from 150.0 to 140.4 mmHg, and cholesterol from 6.28 to 5.0 mmol/l (P < 0.001, age and sex adjusted). The 10-year risk of coronary heart disease for an average male patient declined from 42 to 29%.


CONCLUSIONS
There have been substantial improvements in type 2 diabetes primary care in Norway that are potentially related to major improvements in health outcomes.
Department of Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway. john.cooper@isf.uib.no
John Graham
JG
Cooper
Tor
T
Claudi
Anne Karen
AK
Jenum
Geir
G
Thue
Marie Fjelde
MF
Hausken
Wibeche
W
Ingskog
Sverre
S
Sandberg
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009664:Norway; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin