The Effect of Changing Regular Care Provider in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study

Authors

  • Francisco Sousa Santos Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4123-9440
  • Carlos Tavares Bello Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Catarina Roque Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Ricardo Capitão Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Ricardo Castro Fonseca Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Clotilde Limbert Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • João Sequeira Duarte Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Manuela Oliveira Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Carlos Vasconcelos Departamento Endocrinologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.11304

Keywords:

Continuity of Patient Care, Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Patient Care Team

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of having a regular care provider on the control of chronic diseases. Our study intends to clarify the effects of the transition to a new diabetologist on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes patients followed-up
in a tertiary care setting.
Material and Methods: Retrospective study performed in an endocrinology outpatient clinic. We randomly selected 50 type 2 diabetes
patients for a control group and 50 for a study group. In the study group, we registered the last evaluation before the physician change (year 0) and at the end of each year (year 1, 2 and 3) with the new doctor. Evaluated variables — body mass index, blood pressure, HbA1c and lipid profile — were compared yearly between groups.
Results: There was a decrease in mean HbA1c levels (0.4% – 0.5%, p < 0.05) in year 1 and 2 when compared to year 0 in the study group, but not in the control group. This reduction was superior (0.5% – 1.4%, p < 0.05) in patients whose baseline HbA1c was greater than 7%. The other studied variables did not vary significantly throughout follow-up in either group.
Discussion: In our study the transition to a different type 2 diabetes physician was associated with a decrease in mean HbA1c and this difference was greater in less well controlled patients.
Conclusion: Switching to a new physician may not be harmful and may actually have benefits for the glycemic control of some type 2 diabetes patients.

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Published

2019-09-02

How to Cite

1.
Sousa Santos F, Tavares Bello C, Roque C, Capitão R, Castro Fonseca R, Limbert C, Sequeira Duarte J, Oliveira M, Vasconcelos C. The Effect of Changing Regular Care Provider in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2019 Sep. 2 [cited 2024 Oct. 6];32(9):580-7. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/11304

Issue

Section

Original