Glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated in primary care setting in Jordan

Determine the rate of glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes treated in a university teaching family health centre and determine factors associated with glycaemic control.

A family physician reviewed medical records of all type 2 diabetic patients aged 18 years or older, who attended the university medical centre of Jordan University of Science and Technology between September 2007 and December 2008. All relevant information were abstracted from medical records and filled in a special form.

Of the total 337 patients, 56.1% had HbA1c<7%. The mean HbA1c was 7.1%. About half (46.6%) achieved target blood pressure <130/80. Furthermore, half of the patients achieved the target levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL. However, only 10.4% achieved the target level of LDL. In multivariate analysis only increased duration of disease (>5 years vs. < or =5 years) and type of treatment (insulin alone or combination therapy vs. oral therapy only) were significantly associated with increased odds of HbA1C>7%.

More than half (56.1%) of diabetic patients had HbA1c values of less than 7%. Such finding highlight the importance of providing an organised care in managing diabetic patients in primary care setting and can be a base for further longitudinal studies to evaluate such care.