Metabolic control and quality of data in medical records for subjects with type 2 diabetes in Swedish primary care: improvement between 1995 and 2001

OBJECTIVE: To compare the registering of diabetic complications and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects in primary health care in 1995 and 2001. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys of medical records. SETTING: Two primary health care centres in Stockholm County. SUBJECTS: Diabetic patients aged 35-64 years; in 1995, 59 men and 42 women and in 2001, 80 men and 80 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of notified examinations in medical records, diabetic complications and metabolic control. RESULTS: Increased rates between 1995 and 2001 were found regarding examinations for neuropathy (46% vs 79%), albuminuria (74% vs 91%), micro-albuminuria (11% vs 59%), BMI (33% vs 66%), HbA1c (88% vs 99%), cholesterol (69% vs 92%) and LDL cholesterol (42% vs 89%) (p < 0.001). Increased rates of perceived treatment goals between 1995 and 2001 were found regarding HbA1c (< 6.5%) (28% vs 57%) and cholesterol (< 5.0 mmol/l) (23% vs 36%) (p < 0.001), and also regarding LDL cholesterol (30% vs 36%) (p < 0.01). In men, the number of subjects with any macrovascular complication decreased between 1995 and 2001 (34% vs 17%) (p < 0.01), and in women the number of subjects with coronary heart disease decreased (26% vs 6%) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Documented examination rates and metabolic control improved between 1995 and 2001.