Prevalence and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus among primary care physicians in Spain. PRISMA Study

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr. 2017 May;64(5):265-271. doi: 10.1016/j.endinu.2017.03.003. Epub 2017 Apr 27.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of known and ignored type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among primary care physicians (PCP), as well as the treatment used and the degree of metabolic control reached.

Material and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study on national level. The participants were randomly selected PCPs, members of the redGDPS Foundation. A total of 495 PCP were enrolled. Capillary HbA1c measurement was done with a A1CNow+® device and a diabetes-related survey specifically designed for the study was administered to the participants.

Results: The total prevalence of T2DM was 11.1% (95% CI 8.33-13.9) (known disease 8,1% and ignored disease 3.0%). The prevalence of prediabetes was 16.2% (95% CI 13.0-19.4). A total of 62.5% of PCPs with known T2DM reached HbA1c<7% and 15% had HbA1c>8.5%. Control of blood pressure (BP<140/90mmHg) was reached in 87.5% and control of LDL cholesterol<130mg/dl with no history of cardiovascular disease was reached in 88.6% of cases of known T2DM. In the PCPs with a history of macrovascular disease, good control of LDL was reached in 42.9% of the cases. A total of 12.5% were active smokers. A total of 71.4% of PCPs with known T2DM self-treated their own disease, usually with 2 or more drugs (51.4%). The most commonly used drug was metformin (74.3%) followed by iDPP4 (48.6%).

Conclusions: PCPs with T2DM have better metabolic control than the general population. It is necessary to study whether PCPs with T2DM may have greater adherence to treatment and do they achieve a better metabolic control.

Keywords: Atención Primaria; Diabetes mellitus tipo 2; HbA(1c); Médicos; Physicians; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Primary Care; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / therapy
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy
  • Dyslipidemias / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence
  • Middle Aged
  • Physicians, Primary Care / psychology
  • Physicians, Primary Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prediabetic State / diagnosis
  • Prediabetic State / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Sampling Studies
  • Self Care
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Spain / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids