Individualizing HbA1c targets for patients with diabetes: impact of an automated algorithm within a primary care network

Diabet Med. 2014 Jul;31(7):839-46. doi: 10.1111/dme.12427. Epub 2014 Apr 11.

Abstract

Aims: To develop glycaemic goal individualization algorithms and assess potential impact on a healthcare system and different segments of the population with diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of patients with diabetes in a primary care network age > 18 years with an HbA1c measured between 1 January and 31 December 2011. We applied diabetes guidelines to create targeted algorithms 1 and 2, which assigned HbA1c goals based on age, duration of diabetes (< 15 years or < 10 years), diabetes complications and Charlson co-morbidity score (< 6 or < 4) [targeted algorithm 2 was designed to assign more patients a goal < 64 mmol/mol (8.0%) than targeted algorithm 1]. Each patient's HbA1c was compared with these targeted goals and to the 'standard' goal < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). Agreement was tested using McNemar's test.

Results: Overall, 55.7% of 12 199 patients would be considered controlled under the 'standard' approach, 61.2% under targeted algorithm 1 and 67.5% under targeted algorithm 2. Targeted algorithm 1 reclassified 1213 (23.6%) patients considered uncontrolled under the standard approach to controlled, P < 0.001. Targeted algorithm 2 reclassified 1844 (35.2%) patients, P < 0.001. Compared with those controlled under the standard goal, there was no significant difference in the proportion of those controlled using targeted goals who had Medicaid, had less than a high school diploma or received primary care in a federally qualified health centre.

Conclusions: Two automated targeted algorithms would reclassify one quarter to one third of patients from uncontrolled to controlled within a primary care network without differentially affecting vulnerable patient subgroups.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology*
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism*
  • Glycemic Index
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicaid
  • Middle Aged
  • Precision Medicine* / trends
  • Primary Health Care
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human