Status of diabetes care among community pharmacy patients with diabetes: analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the status of diabetes care among community pharmacy patients with diabetes.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
United States, 2005.


METHODS
1,455 community pharmacy patients aged 18 years or older with diabetes who were diagnosed before 2005.


METHODS
Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.


METHODS
Proportions of patients meeting American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards of medical care in diabetes.


RESULTS
In 2005, 1,455 patients with diabetes who were diagnosed before 2005 filled prescriptions through community pharmacies. Gaps occurred between the diabetes care of these patients and ADA standards. Examples include the following: ADA recommends at least two glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) tests annually, but 19.52% of the study population reported less than two A1C tests in 2005; ADA recommends annual influenza vaccinations, but 42.46% of the study population reported not receiving an influenza vaccination in 2005; and ADA recommends weight control, but 83.74% of the study population was overweight or obese.


CONCLUSIONS
The current results demonstrate that many patients with diabetes are not receiving adequate care and that pharmacists have an opportunity to improve diabetes management.
Wang
Junling
J
College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. jwang26@uthsc.edu
Thomas
Jeremy
J
Byrd
Debbie
D
Nola
Kamala
K
Liu
Jing
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies; D055815:Young Adult