Role of social and other determinants of health in the effect of a multicomponent integrated care strategy on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Although important advances in treatment strategies have been developed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), large gaps exist in achieving glycemic control and preventing complications, particularly in low-and middle-income countries, which suggests a potential effect of social determinants of health (SDH, i.e., education level and socioeconomic status). However, few studies have determined the role of SDH and other determinants of health (ODH, i.e., diabetes knowledge and self-care scores) in achieving T2DM goals during effective multidisciplinary interventions. We aimed to examine a multicomponent integrated care (MIC) program on diabetes care goals and determine the effect of SDH and ODH on T2DM patients. METHODS: A before-and-after design (a pretest, a 5-month intervention, and a follow-up) was used in a T2DM population from Mexico City. The SDH included education level and socioeconomic status; the ODH included diabetes knowledge, self-care scores, and deltas (i.e., differences between baseline and follow-up scores). The triple-target goal (glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and LDL-cholesterol) was established as a measurement of T2DM goals. RESULTS: The DIABEMPIC (DIABetes EMPowerment and Improvement of Care) intervention (n = 498) reduced the glycated hemoglobin levels (mean reduction 2.65%, standard deviation [SD]: 2.02%) and cardiometabolic parameters; it also improved health-related quality of life. From 1.81% at baseline, 25.9% of participants (p-value< 0.001) achieved the triple-target goal. We found a significant association between education level (p-value = 0.010), diabetes knowledge at baseline (p-value = 0.004), and self-care scores at baseline (p-value = 0.033) in the delta (change between baseline and follow-up assessments) of HbA1c levels. Improvements (increase) in diabetes knowledge (p-value = 0.006) and self-care scores (p-value = 0.002) were also associated with greater reductions in HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: MIC strategies in urban primary care settings contribute to control of T2DM. SDH, such as education level, and ODH (diabetes knowledge and self-care scores at baseline) play a key role in improving glycemic control in these settings.

Influence of social determinants, diabetes knowledge, health behaviors, and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: an analysis from real-world evidence.

BACKGROUND: Although important achievements have been done in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) treatment and glycemic control, new strategies may take advantage of non-pharmacological approaches and of other potential determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic status, education, diabetes knowledge, physical activity, and self-care behavior). However, the relationships between these factors are not totally clear and have not been studied in the context of large urban settings. This study aimed to explore the relationship between these determinants of glycemic control (GC) in a low-income urban population from Mexico City, focused in exploring potential the mediation of self-care behaviors in the association between diabetes knowledge and GC. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) from 28 primary care outpatient centers located in Mexico City. Using multivariable-adjusted models, we determined the associations between diabetes knowledge, self-care behaviors, and GC. The mediation analyses to determine the pathways on glycemic control were done using linear regression models, where the significance of indirect effects was calculated with bootstrapping. RESULTS: The population (N = 513) had a mean age of 53.8 years (standard deviation: 11.3 yrs.), and 65.9% were women. Both socioeconomic status and level of education were directly associated with diabetes knowledge. Using multivariable-adjusted linear models, we found that diabetes knowledge was associated with GC (ß: -0.102, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] -0.189, - 0.014). Diabetes knowledge was also independently associated with self-care behavior (for physical activity: ß: 0.181, 95% CI 0.088, 0.273), and self-care behavior was associated with GC (for physical activity: ß: -0.112, 95% CI -0.194, - 0.029). The association between diabetes knowledge and GC was not observed after adjustment for self-care behaviors, especially physical activity (ß: -0.084, 95% CI -0.182, 0.014, p-value: 0.062). Finally, the mediation models showed that the effect of diabetes knowledge on GC was 17% independently mediated by physical activity (p-value: 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic and educational gradients influence diabetes knowledge among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes. Self-care activities, particularly physical activity, mediated the effect of diabetes knowledge on GC. Our results indicate that diabetes knowledge should be reinforced in low-income T2D patients, with an emphasis on the benefits physical activity has on improving GC.

Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Within Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among adults with type 2 diabetes within primary care. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated 1319 individuals receiving standard care across 26 primary units from July 2017 to January 2023. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria were used for the diagnosis of CKD. CKD was defined by eGFR values of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or albumin-to-creatine ratio ≥30 mg/g. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with CKD and study variables. RESULTS: The median age of participants (60.6% females) was 55 years and the median diabetes duration was 10 years. The overall CKD prevalence in the study population was 39.2%. Within the CKD group, the prevalence rates of albuminuria, albuminuria coupled with low eGFR and isolated low eGFR were 72.1%, 19%, and 8.9%, respectively. The prevalence of CKD was 30.6% among participants under 40 years old and a higher value was observed in middle-aged adults with early-onset diabetes (at age <40 years) compared with the later-onset group. Multivariable analyses identified associations between CKD and factors such as age, the male sex, diabetes duration, hypertension, retinopathy, and metformin use. CONCLUSION: A relatively high prevalence of CKD, especially in non-elderly adults, was revealed in this primary care study. Early recognition strategies for CKD are crucial for timely prevention within primary care.

Impact of a multicomponent integrated care delivery program on diabetes care goals achievement: a primary care quality improvement initiative.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of multicomponent integrated care (MIC) delivery program in a primary care real-life setting on diabetes care goals. METHODS: Patients with T2D and usual primary care from the public health system in Mexico were invited to participate in a five-month ambulatory MIC quality initiative (DIAbetes Empowerment and Improvement of Care program, DIABEMPIC). RESULTS: 841 patients who finished the program and with complete data were analyzed. The patients had a mean decrease in hemoglobin A1c, systolic and diastolic pressure, and LDL-cholesterol of 2.4%, 9 mmHg, 3 mmHg, and 22.5 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). The achievement of the optimal triple target goal increased from 1.8% to 26.7% (p < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, the diabetes knowledge and global self-care behavior score post-intervention, as well as the increment of global self-care behavior score were associated with the optimal composite risk factor control achievement. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of diabetes therapeutic education interventions to improve self-care behaviors along with adequate treatment intensification in diabetes care are fundamental to attaining optimal risk factor control and attenuating disease burden.

Adherence to antidiabetic treatment in primary health care in individuals with type 2 diabetes. A survey including socio-demographic, patient related and clinical factors.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to medications is a critical element in diabetes management. OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient-related factors associated with adherence to antidiabetic treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes in primary health-care units. METHODS: A cross-sectional study among patients receiving diabetes care in 18 primary care units in Mexico City was conducted. Data were collected from medical records and medical interviews. Adherence to antidiabetic therapy and patient-related factors associated with adherence were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. Socio-demographic, clinical, behavioral (self-care activities including a healthy diet, exercise or physical activity, self-monitoring of blood glucose testing, and foot care), and patients-adherence-related factors (health-care provider-patient communication; daily and social activities, and support network; alternative treatment beliefs; comorbidity, diabetes symptoms, and treatment; side effects and treatment access) were compared between the adherent and non-adherent group. RESULTS: Of 319 outpatients, 48.3% were adherent to their antidiabetic therapy. In the adjusted analysis, patient-related factors associated to adherence were exercise and physical activity self-care behavior (OR=1.26; 95%CI 1.09-1.46), treatment interference with daily activities (OR=0.27; 95%CI 0.14-0.52), not satisfied with resolution of questions by the physician (OR=0.42; 95%CI 0.19-0.94), independently to increased cardiovascular risk and insulin treatment. CONCLUSION: A low proportion of outpatients with T2D with regular primary care were adherent to diabetes treatment and this was associated with patient-related factors like answering patients' treatment-related questions by the physician. This information may be useful to identify patients at risk for low adherence, and to guide the design of quality-of-care strategies, like diabetes education programs to address suboptimal adherence in patients, and health-care professional communication skills training, particularly in primary care health systems.

Detection of sudomotor alterations evaluated by Sudoscan in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) causes morbidity and affects the quality of life. Before diabetes diagnosis, neuropathic damage may be present. Sudoscan provides accurate measurement of the sudomotor function. This study aimed to assess the abnormalities detected by Sudoscan, offered estimates of DPN prevalence, and investigated the relationship between metabolic and clinical parameters. Additionally, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Sudoscan compared with monofilament and tuning fork tests for detecting DPN. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study including patients with type 2 diabetes for <5 years since diagnosis. We investigated the presence of DPN using a 128 Hz tuning fork test, the 10 g monofilament, and the sudomotor dysfunction in feet using Sudoscan. We compared patients with and without alterations in the Sudoscan. A logistic regression model analyzed variables independently associated with sudomotor dysfunction. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2020, 2243 patients were included, 55.1% women, age 51.8 years, and 17.1% with normal weight. Monofilament tests and/or tuning fork examination were abnormal in 29% (95% CI 0.23% to 0.27%) and 619 patients (27.6%, 0.25% to 0.29%) had sudomotor alterations. In logistic regression analysis, age (ß=1.01, 0.005-1.02), diastolic blood pressure (ß=0.98, 0.96-0.99), heart rate (ß=1.01, 1.00-1.02), glucose (ß=1.00, 1.00-1.03), albuminuria (ß=1.001, 1.000-1.001), beta-blockers=1.98, 1.21-3.24) and fibrate use=0.61, 0.43-0.87) were associated with sudomotor dysfunction. The AUC (area under the curve) for Sudoscan was 0.495 (0.469-0.522), with sensitivity and specificity of 24% and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Sudoscan identified an important proportion of patients with dysfunction, allowing prompt intervention to decrease the risk for complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02836808.