Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Dec 2018)
Glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients attending the Family Medicine Health Center and the Diabetic Health Center in Erbil, Iraq: a comparative study
Abstract
Background and objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus constitutes a universal growing community health problem particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine and compare the rate of the glycemic control and other biochemical parameters of type 2 diabetic patients treated in a primary health center and the diabetic center. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 300 adult patient’s aged ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes who attended Brayati family medicine center and the diabetic center in Erbil city during the period from the 1st of January 2015 to the 28th of February 2016. Results: The mean hemoglobin A1c among patients of the diabetes center was significantly higher than that among patients of the Brayati center (8.28% and 7.21%, respectively) (P <0.001) and the means of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL were significantly higher among patients of the diabetes center compared with Brayati center (P <0.001). Half of the patients at Brayati center had controlled diabetes compared with only 24.7% of patients at the diabetes center (P <0.001), and 50% of the Brayati center sample had equal or more than three controlled risk factors compared with only one-quarter of the diabetes center sample (P <0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that being a patient in Brayati center (compared with diabetes center) (P <0.001; OR = 3.1), diabetes duration of less than five years (P <0.001; OR = 3), and controlled lipid profile (P = 0.004; OR = 2.5) were significantly associated with diabetes control. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed at primary health care, and good glycemic control can be achieved by a greater effort of the health care providers. Reorganizing primary care practice and shifting toward family medicine practice is necessary.
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