Individualized Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Iran: A Multi-Center Data Analysis.

Background: Clinical guidelines and expert committees have recently suggested that the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) should be individualized based on various criteria. Data regarding the achievement of individualized glycemic targets in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is scant in Iran. We intended to provide information found on real-world outcomes from the perspective of an individualized recommendation. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 15 diabetes centers in Iran between 2013-2017. Two steps cluster sampling selection was used to recruit 1591 patients with T2DM. Considering Ismail-Beigi's individualized strategy, the study population was categorized into five treatment intensities of HbA1c: most intensive (≤6.5%), intensive (6.5-7.0%), less intensive (~7.0%), not intensive (7.0-8.0%), and moderated (~8.0%). The percentage of patients who met their group individualized glycemic targets was estimated as the degree of achievement of each treatment intensity. Results: The cumulative incidence rate of early microvascular, advanced microvascular, and macrovascular complications was 53%, 25%, and 34%, respectively. Besides, [78% 77.6-79%] of patients did not achieve individualized glycemic targets. Conclusion: The outcome showed poor individualized glycemic control and a high incidence of diabetes complications. Considering individualized HbA1c targets for Iranian patients with T2DM is an urgent need.

Long-term cost-effectiveness of quality of diabetes care; experiences from private and public diabetes centers in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The quality of health care has a significant impact on both patients and the health system in terms of long-term costs and health consequences. This study focuses on determining the long-term cost-effectiveness in quality of diabetes care in two different settings (private/public) using longitudinal patient-level data in Iran. METHODS: By extracting patients intermediate biomedical markers in under-treatment type 2 diabetes patients(T2DP) in a longitudinal retrospective study and by applying the localized UKPDS diabetes model, lifetime health outcomes including life expectancy, quality-adjusted Life expectancy (QALE) and direct medical costs of managing disease and related complications from a healthcare system perspective was predicted. Costs and utility decrements had derived on under-treatment T2DP from 7 private and 8 Public diabetes centers. We applied two steps sampling mehods to recruit the needed sample size (cluster and random sampling). To cope with first and second-order uncertainty, we used Monte-Carlo simulation and bootstrapping techniques. Both cost and utility variables were discounted by 3% in the base model. RESULTS: In a 20-year time horizon, according to over 5 years of quality of care data, outcomes-driven in the private sector will be more effective and more costly (5.17 vs. 4.95 QALE and 15,385 vs. 8092). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $33,148.02 per QALE gained, which was higher than the national threshold. CONCLUSION: Although quality of care in private diabetes centers resulted in a slight increase in the life expectancy in T2DM patients, it is associated with unfavorable costs, too. Private-sector in management of T2DM patients, compared with public (governmental) diabetic Centers, is unlikely to be cost-effective in Iran.

Quality of care in type 2 diabetes in Iran; a cross-sectional study using patient-level data.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate service delivery, access to high quality of cares and optimal management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can decrease the risk of micro and macro vascular complications and mortality. Therefore, monitoring the quality of diabetes care, including keeping glycemic levels at an optimal level, is crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate processes and outcome-related quality of care indicators, in T2DM using retrospective patient-level data from 2013 to 2017 in 15 Tertiary Diabetes Care Centers in Iran. METHOD: A retrospective observational study was conducted among 1985 T2DM patients at public, semipublic and private diabetes centers. Annual tests for HbA1c, serum lipid (LDL), and screening for nephropathy were used to evaluate process-related indicators; and intermediate biomedical markers including HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and LDL cholesterol, were used to assess outcome-related indicators. RESULTS: Data were extracted from 15 diabetes centers in five provinces in Iran. 62.7% of the patients were female, and the mean duration of diabetes in the patients was 14.7 years. Evaluation of process-related indicators showed that only 9% of patients took the HbA1c test. The percentage of the patients without annual low-density lipoprotein (LDL) test decreased from 13% in 2013 to 7% in 2017. The results of achieving to all indicators concurrently (ABC care) showed that less than 2% of the patients met the criteria of optimal process-related quality indicators. The mean percentage of the patients with HbA1c under 7%, blood pressure (BP) less than 130/80 mmHg, and LDL less than 100 mg/dl in the selected provinces were 32.4, 55, and 71 respectively. However, the average of total achievement in ABC goals was 14.2%. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that the management of T2DM in all selected provinces was far from the optimal control in both processes and outcome-related indicators and therefore needs serious consideration and improvement.