Research article

Family physician and endocrinologist coordination as the basis for diabetes care in clinical practice

Alejandra Duran¹ , Isabelle Runkle¹ , Pilar Matía¹ , Maria P de Miguel¹ , Sofia Garrido² , Emilio Cervera² , Maria D Fernandez¹ , Pilar Torres³ , Tomas Lillo³ , Patricia Martin¹ , Lucio Cabrerizo¹ , Nuria Garcia de la Torre¹ , Jose R Calle¹ , Jose Ibarra¹ , Aniceto L Charro¹ and Alfonso L Calle-Pascual¹

¹  Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

²  Unidad de Formación e Investigación de Atención Primaria, Área 7, Madrid, Spain

³  Dirección Médica, coordinación atención primaria-especializada, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

author email corresponding author email

BMC Endocrine Disorders 2008, 8:9doi:10.1186/1472-6823-8-9

Published:	31 July 2008

Abstract

Background

To estimate the proportion of diabetic patients (DPts) with peripheral vascular disease treated at a primary health care site after an endocrinologist-based intervention, who meet ATP III and Steno targets of metabolic control, as well as to compare the outcome with the results of the patients treated by endocrinologists.

Methods

A controlled, prospective over 30-months period study was conducted in area 7 of Madrid. One hundred twenty six eligible diabetic patients diagnosed as having peripheral vascular disease between January 2003 and June 2004 were included in the study. After a treatment period of three months by the Diabetes team at St Carlos Hospital, 63 patients were randomly assigned to continue their follow up by diabetes team (Group A) and other 63 to be treated by the family physicians (FP) at primary care level with continuous diabetes team coordination (Group B). 57 DPts from Group A and 59 from Group B, completed the 30 months follow-up period. At baseline both groups were similar in age, weight, time from diagnosis and metabolic control. The main outcomes of this study were the proportion of patients meeting ATP III and Steno goals for HbA1c (%), Cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, albumine-to-creatinine excretion ratio (ACR), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), anti-aggregation treatment and smoking status.

Results

At the end of the follow up, no differences were found between the groups. More than 37% of diabetic patients assigned to be treated by FP achieved a HbA1c < 6.5%, more than 50% a ACR < 30 mg/g, and more than 80% reached low risk values for cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure and were anti-aggregated, and 12% remained smokers. In contrast, less than 45% achieved a systolic blood pressure < 130 mm Hg, less than 12% had a BMI < 25 Kg.m-2 (versus 23% in group A; p < 0.05) and 49%/30% (men/women) had a waist circumference of low risk.

Conclusion

Improvements in metabolic control among diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease treated at a primary health care setting is possible, reaching similar results to the patients treated at a specialized level. Despite such an improvement, body weight control remains more than poor in both levels, mainly at primary care level. General practitioner and endocrinologist coordination care may be important to enhance diabetes management in primary care settings.

Trial registration

Clinical Trial number ISRCTN75037597