%0 Journal Article
%T Measuring quality of diabetes care by linking health care system administrative databases with laboratory data
%A Helena Klomp
%A Roland F Dyck
%A Nirmal Sidhu
%A Paul J Cascagnette
%A Gary F Teare
%J BMC Research Notes
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-0500-3-233
%X Prevalent adult cases of diabetes in 2005/06 were identified from administrative databases and linked with A1C and LDL-C tests measured in centralized laboratories. A1C results were performed in 33,927 of 50,713 (66.9%) diabetes cases identified in Saskatchewan, and LDL-C results were performed in 12,031 of 24,207 (49.7%) cases identified within the province's two largest health regions. The target A1C of <= 7.0% and the target LDL-C of <2.5 mmol/L were achieved in 48.3% and 45.1% of diabetes cases respectively. The proportions were lower among those who were female, First Nations, non-urban, younger and in lower income quintiles. The same groups experienced poorer glycemic control (exception females), and poorer lipid control (exception First Nations people). Among non-Aboriginal people, younger diabetic females were least likely to receive lipid lowering agents.Linkage of laboratory with administrative data is an effective method of assessing quality of diabetes care on a population basis and to identify sub-groups requiring particular attention. We found that less than 50% of Saskatchewan people with diabetes achieved optimal glycemic and lipid control. Disparities were most evident among First Nations people and young women. The indicators described can be used to provide standardized information that would support quality improvement initiatives.Canadians are experiencing an epidemic of diabetes [1,2] that disproportionately affects First Nations people [3,4]. Although this has serious consequences for individuals, families and the health care system largely because of chronic complications, these can be lessened with improved glycemic and lipid control [5,6].The Canadian Diabetes Association publishes clinical practice guidelines that include target values for glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) [7]. We evaluated testing frequency and outcome measures of A1C and LDL-C indicators to produce population measures of qualit
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/3/233