Quality of diabetes care: a cross-sectional observational study in Oman

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of diabetes care in Oman. This was a cross-sectional observational study. Fifty percent of all those attending six general health centers in June 2005 were systematically selected for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. A total of 430 diabetic subjects were included. Just over 61% percent of the subjects were female [n = 263]. The overall mean age of the cohort was 52 +/- 12 years ranging from 6 to 84 years. Only 40% [n = 171] and 39% [n = 169] of the diabetics had their random blood sugar [RBS] and fasting blood sugar [FBS] documented, respectively. However, 79% [n = 339] had either RBS or FBS done according to the records. Documentation for the other measurements ranged from 74% [n = 317] for HbA1c and low density lipoproteins-cholesterol [LDL] to 95% [n = 409] for systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP/DBP] readings. A total of 58% [n = 249] of patients had non-missing values of HbA1c, SBP/DBP, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, high density lipoproteins-cholesterol [HDL], and triglycerides. Only 2.4% [6 out of 249 diabetics] were simultaneously within goal for HbA1c [<7%], SBP/DBP [<=130/80 mmHg], total cholesterol [<5.2 mmol/L], LDL-cholesterol [<3.3 mmol/L], HDL-cholesterol [>1.1 - <1.68 mmol/L], and triglycerides [<1.8 mmol/L]. There was good documentation of values for the indicators used in the assessment of quality. However, the proportion [2.4%] of those meeting internationally recognised goals for the three diabetes-related factors was extremely low