Training specialists to write appropriate reply letters to general practitioners about patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms; A cluster-randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of a communication training for specialists on the quality of their reply letters to general practitioners (GPs) about patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). METHODS: Before randomization, specialists included ≤3 MUPS patients in a multi-center cluster-randomized trial. In 14h of MUPS-specific communication training, 2.5h focused on reply letters. Letters were discussed with regard to reporting and answering GPs' referral questions and patients' questions, and to reporting findings, explaining MUPS with perpetuating factors and giving advice. After the training, all doctors again included ≤3 MUPS patients. Reply letters to GPs were assessed for quality and blindly rated on a digital scale. RESULTS: We recruited 478 MUPS patients and 123 specialists; 80% of the doctors wrote ≥1 reply letters, 285 letters were assessed. Trained doctors reported (61% versus 37%, OR=2.55, F(1281)=6.60, p(group*time)=.01) and answered (63% versus 33%, OR=3.31, F(1281)=5.36, p(group*time)=.02) patients' questions more frequently than untrained doctors. CONCLUSION: Training improves reply letters with regard to patients' questions, but not with regard to the following: GPs' referral questions, somatic findings, additional testing, explaining, and advice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Training specialists to write appropriate reply letters needs more focus on explanation and advice.

Skin manifestations of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus can be complicated by a variety of cutaneous manifestations. Good metabolic control may prevent some of these manifestations and may support cure. Unfortunately, most glucose-lowering drugs also have cutaneous side effects. It is important to be able to recognize these signs and symptoms and to either treat them appropriately or refer the patient to a dermatologist or diabetologist.

Ethnic differences in internal medicine referrals and diagnosis in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: As in other Western countries, the number of immigrants in the Netherlands is growing rapidly. In 1980 non-western immigrants constituted about 3% of the population, in 1990 it was 6% and currently it is more than 10%. Nearly half of the migrant population lives in the four major cities. In the municipality of Rotterdam 34% of the inhabitants are migrants. Health policy is based on the ideal that all inhabitants should have equal access to health care and this requires an efficient planning of health care resources, like staff and required time per patient. The aim of this study is to examine ethnic differences in the use of internal medicine outpatient care, specifically to examine ethnic differences in the reason for referral and diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a study with an open cohort design. We registered the ethnicity, sex, age, referral reasons, diagnosis and living area of all new patients that visited the internal medicine outpatient clinic of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam (Erasmus MC) for one year (March 2002-2003). Additionally, we coded referrals according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) and categorised diagnosis according to the Diagnosis Treatment Combination (DTC). We analysed data by using Poisson regression and logistic regression. RESULTS: All ethnic minority groups (Surinam, Turkish, Moroccan, Antillean/Aruban and Cape Verdean immigrants) living in Rotterdam municipality, make significantly more use of the outpatient clinic than native Dutch people (relative risk versus native Dutch people was 1.83, 1.97, 1.79, 1.65 and 1.88, respectively). Immigrant patients are more likely to be referred for analysis and treatment of 'gastro-intestinal signs & symptoms' and were less often referred for 'indefinite, general signs'. Ethnic minorities were more frequently diagnosed with 'Liver diseases', and less often with 'Analysis without diagnosis'. The increased use of the outpatient facilities seems to be restricted to first-generation immigrants, and is mainly based on a higher risk of being referred with 'gastro-intestinal signs & symptoms'. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate substantial ethnic differences in the use of the outpatient care facilities. Ethnic differences may decrease in the future when the proportion of first-generation immigrants decreases. The increased use of outpatient health care seems to be related to ethnic background and the generation of the immigrants rather than to socio-economic status. Further study is needed to establish this.

Genetic variation, C-reactive protein levels, and incidence of diabetes.

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes, but whether CRP has a causal role is not yet clear. We examined the association in the Rotterdam Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. The association of baseline serum CRP and incident diabetes during follow-up was investigated, and a meta-analysis was conducted on the BMI-adjusted relation of CRP and diabetes. Furthermore, the association of CRP haplotypes with serum CRP and risk of diabetes was assessed. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for diabetes was 1.41 (95% CI 1.29-1.54) per 1 SD increase in natural logarithm of CRP, and it was 1.88, 2.16, and 2.83 for the second, third, and fourth quartiles of CRP, respectively, compared with the first quartile. The risk estimates attenuated but remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for obesity indexes, which agreed with the results of the meta-analysis. The most common genetic haplotype was associated with a significantly lower CRP level compared with the three other haplotypes. The risk of diabetes was significantly higher in the haplotype with the highest serum CRP level compared with the most common haplotype (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08-1.96). These findings support the hypothesis that serum CRP enhances the development of diabetes.

Short-term administration of an angiotensin-receptor antagonist in patients with impaired fasting glucose improves insulin sensitivity and increases free IGF-I.

OBJECTIVE: Blocking the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, but data are inconclusive and the mechanisms involved are unclear. RAS and RAS inhibition also influence the IGF-I system, which is important in glucose homeostasis. We investigated the effects of the angiotensin-receptor antagonist, losartan, on insulin resistance and IGF-I levels DESIGN AND METHODS: In this hypothesis-generating study, five individuals with impaired fasting glucose received 100 mg losartan during 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment period, insulin sensitivity was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA), as well as the 2-h continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA). Furthermore, serum levels of free and total IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), lipids and HbAlc were measured. RESULTS: After the treatment period, the HOMA score for insulin resistance had decreased from 5.3+/-1.1 to 3.7+/-0.9 (P=0.004) and the 2-h CIGMA score from 23.4+/-3.1 to 15.9+/-2.1 (P=0.07). The serum levels of free IGF-I had increased from 57+/-18.8 to 134+/-31.3 pmol/l (P=0.04). In terms of percentage, the decrease of HOMA correlated with the increase in free IGF-I levels (Pearson's correlation coefficient r=-0.8; P=0.07). A trend in the same direction was observed with 2-h CIGMA. No differences were observed in lipids, total IGF-I, IGFBP-3 or HbAlc. CONCLUSIONS: Losartan raised serum levels of free IGF-I, which might contribute to the improvement of insulin resistance associated with losartan treatment. These observations, if confirmed in broader studies, will help our understanding of the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes mellitus, as well as the role of angiotensin-receptor antagonists in its prevention.

Normotensive women with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria are at high risk for macrovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: The excess risk of macrovascular disease and death associated with diabetes seems higher in women than in men. The pathogenesis for this risk difference has not been fully elucidated. We investigated whether female sex was associated with macrovascular disease and death, independently of known risk factors related to type 2 diabetes, nephropathy, or retinopathy in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, prolonged follow-up study of a subgroup of 67 diabetic patients (46 men and 21 women) without established cardiovascular disease who participated in a larger clinical trial. Data were collected on current and past health, medication use, blood pressure, renal function, and HbA(1c) during the follow-up period of 4.7 +/- 0.8 (means +/- SE) years. The end point was a composite of death, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular events, and peripheral artery disease. RESULTS: Of the women, eight (38.1%) met the end point compared with six (13.4%) of the men (P = 0.02 for difference in event-free survival). The hazard ratio of women relative to men was 3.19 (95% CI 1.11-9.21), which further increased after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, smoking, total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, urinary albumin excretion, and retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: In our study population of normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria, female sex was associated with increased risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease, independent of the classical cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of nephropathy or presence of retinopathy, or health care utilization.

[Metabolic control by means of insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes and acute myocardial infarction (DIGAMI 2): effects on mortality and morbidity--secondary publication]. / Metabolisk kontrol med insulin hos patienter med diabetes mellitus og akut myokardieinfarkt (DIGAMI 2): effekt på mortalitet og morbiditet--sekundaerpublikation.

Patients with diabetes have an unfavourable prognosis after an acute myocardial infarction. The DIGAMI 2 study investigated the effect of various metabolic treatment strategies in type 2 diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction: acutely introduced, long-term insulin treatment did not improve survival when compared with conventional management at similar levels of glucose control. However, good glucose control seems important since the glucose level was found to be a strong predictor of long-term mortality in this patient category.

The IGF-I system and the renal and haemodynamic effects of losartan in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Losartan has been shown to protect the diabetic kidney, at least partly independent of changes in blood pressure. Imbalances in the IGF-I system are associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. We investigated whether renal as well as haemodynamic effects of losartan are associated with changes in the IGF-I system in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial involved 74 normotensive patients with T2DM and microalbuminuria. Thirty-eight patients were assigned to receive losartan and 36 patients were assigned to receive placebo for 10 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of total and free IGF-I, IGFBP-3, creatinine and haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)), as well as urinary albumin excretion rate, creatinine clearance and blood pressure, were measured prior to the start of treatment and after 10 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: At baseline, serum levels of IGFBP-3 were elevated and serum levels of free IGF-I were reduced. Losartan tended to reduce IGFBP-3 levels and to increase free IGF-I levels, although neither effect was statistically significant. These effects were more pronounced in a subanalysis of 18 losartan-treated patients with stable metabolic parameters, with a decrease in IGFBP-3 from 133.2 to 122.6 nmol/l (P=0.006) and an increase in free IGF-I levels by 8% (ns). Serum levels of total IGF-I were unaffected. The change in IGFBP-3 was inversely correlated to the change in creatinine clearance (r=-0.4; P=0.02). Total and free IGF-I inversely correlated to systolic blood pressure (r= -0.46; P=0.007 and r=0.26; P=0.14 respectively). Furthermore, changes in total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 correlated to changes in serum creatinine levels in the metabolically stable patients (r=0.58, P=0.02 and r=0.6, P=0.01, respectively). Changes in the IGF-I system were unrelated to a reduction in microalbuminuria associated with losartan. CONCLUSIONS: Losartan lowered the elevated levels of IGFBP-3, although only significantly in the metabolically stable patients. A tendency towards an increase in free IGF-I levels was also observed, but this change was small and not statistically significant. These changes were not related to reduction in microalbuminuria, but might contribute to effects of losartan on creatinine clearance and blood pressure of losartan in normotensive patients with T2DM.

Ethnic differences in mortality, end-stage complications, and quality of care among diabetic patients: a review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of ethnic differences in diabetes care on inequalities in mortality and prevalence of end-stage complications among diabetic patients. The following questions were examined: 1) Are there ethnic differences among diabetic patients in mortality and end-stage complications and 2) are there ethnic differences among diabetic patients in quality of care? RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A review of the literature on ethnic differences in the prevalence of complications and mortality among diabetic patients and in the quality of diabetes care was performed by systematically searching articles on Medline published from 1987 through October 2004. RESULTS: A total of 51 studies were included, mainly conducted in the U.S. and the U.K. In general, after adjusting for confounders, diabetic patients from ethnic minorities had higher mortality rates and higher risk of diabetes complications. After additional adjustment for risk factors such as smoking, socioeconomic status, income, years of education, and BMI, in most instances ethnic differences disappear. Nevertheless, blacks and Hispanics in the U.S. and Asians in the U.K. have an increased risk of end-stage renal disease, and blacks and Hispanics in the U.S. have an increased risk of retinopathy. Intermediate outcomes of care were worse in blacks, and they were inclined to be worse in Hispanics. Likewise, ethnic differences in quality of care in the U.S. exist: process of care was worse in blacks. CONCLUSIONS: Given the fact that there are ethnic differences in diabetes care and that ethnic differences in some diabetes complications persist after adjustment for risk factors other than diabetes care, it seems the case that ethnic differences in diabetes care contribute to the more adverse disease outcomes of diabetic patients from some ethnic minority groups. Although no generalizations can be made for all ethnic groups in all regions for all kinds of complications, the results do implicate the importance of quality of care in striving for equal health outcomes among ethnic minorities.

Advanced glycation end products are associated with pulse pressure in type 1 diabetes: the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study.

We investigated the associations of pulse pressure (a measure of arterial stiffness) with the early glycation products hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and Amadori albumin and the advanced glycation end products pentosidine, Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine in a large group of type 1 diabetic individuals of the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study. We did a cross-sectional nested case-control study from the EURODIAB Prospective Complications Study of 543 (278 men) European individuals with type 1 diabetes diagnosed at <36 years of age. We used linear regression analyses to investigate the association of pulse pressure with glycation products. Pulse pressure was significantly associated with plasma levels of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine but not with HbA1c, Amadori albumin, and urinary levels of pentosidine. Regression coefficients adjusted for age, sex, mean arterial pressure, and duration of diabetes were 0.09 mm Hg (P=0.003) per 1 microM/M lysine Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine; 0.24 mm Hg (P=0.001) and -0.03 mm Hg (P=0.62) per 1 microM/M lysine Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine (in individuals with and without complications, respectively; P interaction=0.002); and 0.50 mm Hg (P=0.16) per 1% HbA1c; 0.07 mm Hg (P=0.12) per 1 U/mL Amadori albumin; and 0.77 mm Hg (P=0.48) per 1 nmol/mmol creatinine pentosidine. In young type 1 diabetic individuals, arterial stiffness is strongly associated with the advanced glycation end products Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine. These findings suggest that the formation of advanced glycation end products is an important pathway in the development of arterial stiffness in young type 1 diabetic individuals.

Atorvastatin decreases apolipoprotein C-III in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein and HDL in type 2 diabetes: a potential mechanism to lower plasma triglycerides.

OBJECTIVE: Apolipoprotein (apo)C-III is a constituent of HDL (HDL apoC-III) and of apoB-containing lipoproteins (LpB:C-III). It slows the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) by inhibition of the activity of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and by interference with lipoprotein binding to cell-surface receptors. Elevated plasma LpB:C-III is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We studied the effect of atorvastatin on plasma LpB:C-III and HDL apoC-III. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied the effect of 30 weeks' treatment with 10 and 80 mg atorvastatin on plasma apoC-III levels in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 217 patients with type 2 diabetes and fasting plasma triglycerides between 1.5 and 6.0 mmol/l. RESULTS: Baseline levels of total plasma apoC-III, HDL apoC-III, and LpB:C-III were 41.5 +/- 10.0, 17.7 +/- 5.5, and 23.8 +/- 7.7 mg/l, respectively. Plasma apoC-III was strongly correlated with plasma triglycerides (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). Atorvastatin 10- and 80-mg treatment significantly decreased plasma apoC-III (atorvastatin 10 mg, 21%, and 80 mg, 27%), HDL apoC-III (atorvastatin 10 mg, 22%, and 80 mg, 28%) and LpB:C-III (atorvastatin 10 mg, 23%, and 80 mg, 28%; all P < 0.001). The decrease in plasma apoC-III, mainly in LpB:C-III, strongly correlated with a decrease in triglycerides (atorvastatin 10 mg, r = 0.70, and 80 mg, r = 0.78; P < 0.001). Atorvastatin treatment also leads to a reduction in the HDL apoC-III-to-HDL cholesterol and HDL apoC-III-to-apoA-I ratios, indicating a change in the number of apoC-III per HDL particle (atorvastatin 10 mg, -21%, and 80 mg, -31%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a significant dose-dependent reduction in plasma apoC-III, HDL apoC-III, and LpB:C-III levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. These data indicate a potentially important antiatherogenic effect of statin treatment and may explain (part of) the triglyceride-lowering effect of atorvastatin.

Effect of losartan on microalbuminuria in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have shown antiproteinuric effects in normotensive and hypertensive diabetic patients. Angiotensin-receptor antagonists reduce urinary albumin excretion and the risk for renal and cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The effect of angiotensin-receptor antagonists in normotensive diabetic patients with microalbuminuria has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: To assess the antiproteinuric effects of losartan in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: 19 outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. PATIENTS: 147 normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria. INTERVENTION: 74 patients were randomly assigned to receive losartan and 73 patients were assigned to receive placebo for 10 weeks; 71 patients in each group completed the study. The losartan dose was 50 mg during the first 5 weeks and 100 mg during the subsequent 5 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Change in urinary albumin excretion rate after 5 and 10 weeks, change in creatinine clearance and blood pressure, and safety and tolerability of losartan. RESULTS: A significant 25% relative reduction in the albumin excretion rate occurred after 5 weeks of the 50-mg losartan dose, with further improvement over the subsequent 5 weeks with the 100-mg dose (relative reduction, 34%). In the losartan group, creatinine clearance did not improve and blood pressure decreased slightly. Side effects did not differ between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The angiotensin-receptor antagonist losartan reduces urinary albumin excretion in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. In multivariate analysis, the antiproteinuric effect of losartan was independent of the associated reduction in blood pressure. Losartan was safe and well tolerated in these normotensive patients.

Atorvastatin dose-dependently decreases hepatic lipase activity in type 2 diabetes: effect of sex and the LIPC promoter variant.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic lipase (HL) is involved in the metabolism of several lipoproteins and may contribute to the atherogenic lipid profile in type 2 diabetes. Little is known about the effect of cholesterol synthesis inhibitors on HL activity in relation to sex and the hepatic lipase gene, the LIPC promoter variant in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we studied the effect of atorvastatin 10 mg (A10) and 80 mg (A80) on HL activity in 198 patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients (aged 45-75 years, without manifest coronary artery disease, total cholesterol 4.0-8.0 mmol/l, and fasting triglycerides [TG] 1.5-6.0 mmol/l) were included in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial for 30 weeks (Diabetes Atorvastatin Lipid Intervention study). RESULTS: HL activity at baseline was significantly higher in our population compared with an age-matched control group without type 2 diabetes (406 +/- 150 vs. 357 +/- 118 units/l). HL activity in men versus women (443 +/- 158 vs. 358 +/- 127 units/l), in carriers of the LIPC C/C allele versus carriers of the T/T allele (444 +/- 142 vs. 227 +/- 96 units/l), and in Caucasians versus blacks (415 +/- 150 vs. 260 +/- 127 units/l) all differed significantly (P < 0.001). Atorvastatin dose-dependently decreased HL (A10, -11%; A80, -22%; both P < 0.001). Neither sex nor the LIPC C-->T variation influenced the effect of atorvastatin on HL activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sex, LIPC promoter variant, and ethnicity significantly contribute to the baseline variance in HL activity. Atorvastatin treatment in diabetic dyslipidemia results in a significant dose-dependent decrease in HL activity, regardless of sex or the LIPC promoter variant.