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Why Don’t Diabetes Patients Achieve Recommended Risk Factor Targets? Poor Adherence versus Lack of Treatment Intensification

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Abstract

Background

Despite the availability of effective hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia therapies, target levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), and hemoglobin A1c control are often not achieved.

Objective

To examine the relative importance of patient medication nonadherence versus clinician lack of therapy intensification in explaining above target cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor levels.

Design

Cross-sectional assessment.

Participants

In 2005, 161,697 Kaiser Permanente Northern California adult diabetes patients were included in the study.

Measurement

“Above target” was defined as most recent A1c ≥7.0% for hyperglycemia, LDL-c ≥100 mg/dL for hyperlipidemia, and SBP ≥130 mmHg for hypertension. Poor adherence was defined as medication gaps for ≥20% of days covered for all medications for each condition separately. Treatment intensification was defined as an increase in the number of drug classes, increased dosage of a class, or a switch to a different class within the 3 months before or after notation of above target levels.

Results

Poor adherence was found in 20–23% of patients across the 3 conditions. No evidence of poor adherence with no treatment intensification was found in 30% of hyperglycemia patients, 47% of hyperlipidemia patients, and 36% of hypertension patients. Poor adherence or lack of therapy intensification was evident in 53–68% of patients above target levels across conditions.

Conclusions

Both nonadherence and lack of treatment intensification occur frequently in patients above target for CVD risk factor levels; however, lack of therapy intensification was somewhat more common. Quality improvement efforts should focus on these modifiable barriers to CVD risk factor control.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control, Contract no. U58/CCU923527-04-1. Dr. Schmittdiel is supported by the Office of Research in Women’s Health Building Interdisciplinary Careers in Women’s Health K12 Career Development Award ((K12HD052163).

The study protocol was approved by the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Institutional Review Board (CN-03JSelb-08).

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie A. Schmittdiel PhD.

Additional information

Dr. Heisler is a VA HSR&D Career Development awardee.

Appendix

Appendix

Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia

Diabetes mellitus (one of the following):

  1. 1.

    at least 1 prescription of insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent; or

  2. 2.

    at least 2 outpatient diagnoses of diabetes mellitus; or

  3. 3.

    1 outpatient diagnosis of diabetes mellitus plus ≥1 Hb A1c ≥7%; or

  4. 4.

    at least 1 hospital discharge with a primary DM-related diagnosis (ICD-9 code 250.X).

Hypertension (one of the following):

  1. 1.

    at least 1 prescription for an antihypertensive medication plus an outpatient diagnosis of hypertension; or

  2. 2.

    at least 2 outpatient diagnoses of hypertension; or

  3. 3.

    at least 1 prescription for an antihypertensive medication plus 1 or more elevated outpatient blood pressure readings (≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic); or

  4. 4.

    at least 1 outpatient diagnosis of hypertension plus at least 1 blood pressure reading of ≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic.

Dyslipidemia (one of the following):

  1. 1)

    at least 1 prescription for an antilipemic agent; or

  2. 2)

    outpatient diagnosis of hyperlipidemia/hypercholesterolemia with an LDL-cholesterol value greater than or equal to the risk-appropriate cut point value; or

  3. 3)

    Outpatient diagnosis of hyperlipidemia/hypercholesterolemia with a prior LDL-cholesterol value greater than or equal to the risk-appropriate cut point value.

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Schmittdiel, J.A., Uratsu, C.S., Karter, A.J. et al. Why Don’t Diabetes Patients Achieve Recommended Risk Factor Targets? Poor Adherence versus Lack of Treatment Intensification. J GEN INTERN MED 23, 588–594 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0554-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0554-8

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