Evaluation of the Quality Blue Primary Care program on health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the role of the Quality Blue Primary Care (QBPC) program on healthcare utilization and overall cost among the beneficiaries of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study using claims data from adults residing in QBPC-implemented regions continuously enrolled through BCBSLA from June 2012 to December 2014 (N = 89,034). METHODS: Controlling for age, gender, and risk score by propensity score weighting, inpatient, outpatient, and corresponding medical expenditures were each compared between the QBPC group and the control group using a difference-in-differences regression model. RESULTS: Average total cost increased in both the QBPC and control groups in 2014, but the increase was significantly less in the intervention group-a difference of $27.09 per member per month (PMPM) (P ≤.001). Savings in total cost were derived largely from a decrease in hospitalizations-a difference of $18.85 PMPM (P = .0023). Furthermore, savings were associated with shifts in healthcare utilization by the intervention group toward proactive management, including increased primary care physician visits (P = .0106) and higher screening rates for diabetes (P = .0019). Inpatient admissions also decreased in the QBPC group, most significantly among those with chronic conditions (P <.05). Conversely, an unexpected increase was observed in emergency department visits. CONCLUSIONS: The QBPC program was associated with a shift in primary care delivery and reductions in overall cost. Savings were achieved largely through reductions in hospitalization costs.

The ADMA-Metformin Hypothesis: Linking the Cardiovascular Consequences of the Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes.

Metformin and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are structural analogs. They have opposite effects at multiple points on complex signaling pathways that coordinate energy, molecular synthesis, growth, and metabolism with nutrient intake. Excess saturated fats and glucose may initiate the methylation of arginine residues in proteins involved in the transcription of genes mediating inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis. Free ADMA may appear in the circulation after proteolysis of these proteins when the work of transcription is complete and ADMA subsequently functions as a signaling molecule. In children, ADMA levels are not significantly related to the usual metabolic syndrome risk factors but instead there is a significant association between ADMA and alkaline phosphatase - a marker of normal growth. There is only one direct study that shows that ADMA negates the metabolic effects of metformin. There are no investigations that demonstrate that metformin blocks the effect of ADMA and so this review must be considered hypothesis generating. The potential implications of the metformin-ADMA relationship merit further investigation.

Retrospective analysis and patient satisfaction assessment of insulin pump therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and assess glycemic control, total daily insulin requirements, weight, and patient satisfaction after changing from multiple daily injections (MDI) to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional cohort analysis of an electronic medical records database from a private physician's clinic. Patients over 18 years of age who had type 2 diabetes and who utilized CSII for at least six months were analyzed. Variables of interest included glycosylated hemoglobin, total daily insulin requirements, and weight at the time of conversion from MDI to CSII. Patients were also asked to complete a satisfaction survey comparing MDI to CSII. RESULTS: Thirty patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased from 9.25% ± 2.20 to 7.94% ± 1.65 (P < 0.001) at six months, total daily insulin dose decreased from 1.33 ± 0.66 u/kg/day to 1.08 ± 0.70 u/kg/day (P < 0.001) at six months, and weight increased from 106.66 ± 19.17 kg to 109.75 ± 18.01 kg (P < 0.001). After twelve months, HbA1c did not significantly change and weight returned to baseline; however, total daily insulin dose significantly decreased. 95% of patients preferred CSII therapy to previous injection regimen for various reasons. CONCLUSION: Insulin pump therapy provided better glycemic control and reduced the total amount of insulin utilized. Patients who utilized CSII thought that the treatment was more convenient, less burdensome, and provided better control of fluctuations in blood glucose. CSII was preferred by patients over multiple daily injections.

The use of a single-pill calcium channel blocker/statin combination in the management of hypertension and dyslipidemia: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.

Poor control of hypertension or dyslipidemia may at least in part be due to these risk factors being treated in isolation. The Caduet in Untreated Subjects Population (CUSP) trial was an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy/safety of the combination of a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine besylate) and a statin (atorvastatin calcium) in a single-pill form (5/20 mg) plus therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) compared with placebo plus TLC in patients with comorbid hypertension and dyslipidemia without evidence of cardiovascular disease. At week 4, additional antihypertensive/lipid-lowering medication was permitted. The primary end point was the proportion of patients in whom the dual goal of blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control (<100 mg/dL) was met at week 4. This dual goal attainment was significantly greater with amlodipine/atorvastatin plus TLC compared with placebo plus TLC at week 4 (47.6% vs 1.7%; P<.001), with further improvements at week 8. Most adverse events were mild to moderate. Therapy with single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin plus TLC in these patients significantly increased dual blood pressure/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment compared with placebo plus TLC.

Acute metformin therapy confers cardioprotection against myocardial infarction via AMPK-eNOS-mediated signaling.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical studies have reported that metformin reduces cardiovascular end points of type 2 diabetic subjects by actions that cannot solely be attributed to glucose-lowering effects. The therapeutic effects of metformin have been reported to be mediated by its activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolite sensing protein kinase whose activation following myocardial ischemia has been suggested to be an endogenous protective signaling mechanism. We investigated the potential cardioprotective effects of a single, low-dose metformin treatment (i.e., 286-fold less than the maximum antihyperglycemic dose) in a murine model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nondiabetic and diabetic (db/db) mice were subjected to transient myocardial ischemia for a period of 30 min followed by reperfusion. Metformin (125 microg/kg) or vehicle (saline) was administered either before ischemia or at the time of reperfusion. RESULTS: Administration of metformin before ischemia or at reperfusion decreased myocardial injury in both nondiabetic and diabetic mice. Importantly, metformin did not alter blood glucose levels. During early reperfusion, treatment with metformin augmented I/R-induced AMPK activation and significantly increased endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) phosphorylation at residue serine 1177. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide important information that myocardial AMPK activation by metformin following I/R sets into motion events, including eNOS activation, which ultimately lead to cardioprotection.

Addressing the global cardiovascular risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in the southeastern United States.

An expanded occurrence of the metabolic syndrome in the U.S. population, especially in the Southeastern United States, has raised awareness of a need to revise our approach to the management of global cardiovascular risk factors while underscoring a need for more aggressive interventions and prevention measures. In defining the components of the metabolic syndrome and the interrelationship among obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, a basic framework for the medical management of this syndrome has been defined. In Part I of the consensus report prepared by the Workgroup on Medical Guidelines of the Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control (COSEHC), we analyze the components of the metabolic syndrome, discuss its pathophysiology, and recommend an approach to the quantitative analysis of the risk factors contributing to excess cardiovascular death in the region.

A systematic approach to managing hypertension and the metabolic syndrome in primary care.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is driving a high prevalence of hypertension and metabolic syndrome-related risk and disease. This report summarizes the impact of a standardized, evidence-based approach to managing high blood pressure and associated metabolic syndrome abnormalities that was developed and implemented by one Clinical Hypertension Specialist. METHODS: Longitudinal data on blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), cardiovascular and renal comorbidities, and treatment medications were obtained on all 817 hypertensive patients seen from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2003. RESULTS: The hypertensive patients were 72 +/- 11 (SD) years old, and more than 55% of them were high risk based on target organ damage, clinical cardiovascular disease, or diabetes mellitus. Blood pressure was < 140/90 mm Hg in 77% of all patients. Among the high-risk patients, mean blood pressure was 126 +/- 14/71 +/- 10 on 2.8 +/- 1.4 antihypertensive medications, with 88% on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, 59% on diuretics, 49% on calcium channel blockers, and 36% on beta-blockers. Among dyslipidemic hypertensives, LDL-C was controlled to < 130 mg/dL in 84% (510/605) overall and to < 100 mg/dL in 70% of the high-risk group (299/427). Among diabetic hypertensives, the mean HbA1c was 6.8%, with 64% (155/242) less than 7%. New patients demonstrated improved blood pressure, LDL-C, and hemoglobin A1c control over time as the management algorithm was applied. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of complicated hypertension was documented. Blood pressure, LDL-C, and HbA1c were controlled to goal in a high proportion of patients. The findings demonstrate that application of an evidence-based management algorithm can facilitate higher rates of cardiovascular risk factor control than are generally reported in primary care practices.