title: [Quality of care in diabetic outpatient clinics].
abstract: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus affects an increasing number of people throughout the world. Several studies have shown that it is possible to prevent and minimize type 2 diabetes complications, be it treated appropriately over time. This study aimed to determine the quality of care provided to type 2 diabetic patients in our institution, through metabolic control and risk factors evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 776 type 2 diabetic patients, followed at our outpatient clinic between 1998-2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 588 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 66,8 ± 27,2 years. 58% were men. HbA1c levels averaged 7,2 ± 1,6. 57% had HbA1c = 7%. 25,3% met the target blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg; 48% met the goal LDL cholesterol level < 100 and 80% < 130 mg/dl. 6,8% of patients met the combined ADA goal for BP, LDL and HbA1c. Concerning therapeutic regimens: 71,5% used oral hypoglycaemic agents (OAD) alone (52,1% of these were using 2 or more agents); 28,5% were treated with insulin (16,2% in combination with OAD). 52,1% of the patients were anti-aggregated with aspirin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metabolic control (HbA1c) and LDL values were favourable in our patients sample, comparing to other studies. The percentage of patients treated to the recommended BP of 130/80 mmHg is consistent with the literature. Only 6,8% of patients met the combined ADA goal for BP, LDL and HbA1c. Despite our comparable results to published data, we would like to highlight the difficulty to accomplish international recommendations to metabolic and risk factors control in clinical practice and the necessity of an aggressive approach to diabetes treatment.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Endocrinologia Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospital Militar Principal, Lisboa.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcelino
authors.forename: E Lacerda
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chambel
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: M Paes
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Valentim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vilar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliveira Lopes
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santana Lopes
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paradinha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jácome De Castro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies