Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care

Aim To study trajectories of HbA1c in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients referred to diabetes outpatient clinics (DOCs), and to explore characteristics of referrals and patient pathways in patients treated in DOCs.Methods We retrospectively followed T2D patients from the Norwegian population-based ROSA...

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Main Authors: Kjersti Nøkleby, Anne K. Jenum, Esben Selmer Buhl, Tor Claudi, John G. Cooper, Signe Flottorp, Karianne F. Løvaas, Sverre Sandberg, Tore Julsrud Berg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-04-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2433107
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author Kjersti Nøkleby
Anne K. Jenum
Esben Selmer Buhl
Tor Claudi
John G. Cooper
Signe Flottorp
Karianne F. Løvaas
Sverre Sandberg
Tore Julsrud Berg
author_facet Kjersti Nøkleby
Anne K. Jenum
Esben Selmer Buhl
Tor Claudi
John G. Cooper
Signe Flottorp
Karianne F. Løvaas
Sverre Sandberg
Tore Julsrud Berg
author_sort Kjersti Nøkleby
collection DOAJ
description Aim To study trajectories of HbA1c in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients referred to diabetes outpatient clinics (DOCs), and to explore characteristics of referrals and patient pathways in patients treated in DOCs.Methods We retrospectively followed T2D patients from the Norwegian population-based ROSA 4 study to identify persons with T2D who were referred to a DOC. We used latent class trajectory modelling to identify subgroups of patients with similar patterns of HbA1c one year before to one year after the first consultation at a DOC. We performed multinomial regression analyses to identify baseline characteristics associated with group membership.Results Four hundred and two of 6716 T2D patients started treatment at a DOC, constituting a yearly starting rate of 1.5%. We identified three classes of HbA1c trajectories: (1) stable moderate hyperglycaemia (75%); (2) severe hyperglycaemia with a decline in HbA1c around referral (14%) and (3) severe hyperglycaemia with a decline in HbA1c after starting treatment at the DOC (11%). HbA1c trajectories were associated with diabetes duration RRR 0.92, CI (0.87, 0.97) in class 2 vs. 1 and 0.93 (0.88, 0.98) in class 3 vs. 1. Some differences were found between clinics in rejection rate, processes of care, and duration of follow-up.Conclusions Norwegian GPs handle most T2D patients themselves. Those with T2D and severe hyperglycaemia had a considerable benefit from being referred to a DOC, though with two separate trajectories: One where HbA1c improved around the time of referral, and another that improved after starting in a DOC.
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spelling doaj-art-7fd002ba9faf45a3a27697e8cfefb5772025-08-20T03:47:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care0281-34321502-77242025-04-0143231332310.1080/02813432.2024.2433107Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary careKjersti Nøkleby0Anne K. Jenum1Esben Selmer Buhl2Tor Claudi3John G. Cooper4Signe Flottorp5Karianne F. Løvaas6Sverre Sandberg7Tore Julsrud Berg8Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, General Practice Research Unit (AFE), University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, NorwayNorwegian Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayNorwegian Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, NorwayNorwegian Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, NorwayInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayAim To study trajectories of HbA1c in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients referred to diabetes outpatient clinics (DOCs), and to explore characteristics of referrals and patient pathways in patients treated in DOCs.Methods We retrospectively followed T2D patients from the Norwegian population-based ROSA 4 study to identify persons with T2D who were referred to a DOC. We used latent class trajectory modelling to identify subgroups of patients with similar patterns of HbA1c one year before to one year after the first consultation at a DOC. We performed multinomial regression analyses to identify baseline characteristics associated with group membership.Results Four hundred and two of 6716 T2D patients started treatment at a DOC, constituting a yearly starting rate of 1.5%. We identified three classes of HbA1c trajectories: (1) stable moderate hyperglycaemia (75%); (2) severe hyperglycaemia with a decline in HbA1c around referral (14%) and (3) severe hyperglycaemia with a decline in HbA1c after starting treatment at the DOC (11%). HbA1c trajectories were associated with diabetes duration RRR 0.92, CI (0.87, 0.97) in class 2 vs. 1 and 0.93 (0.88, 0.98) in class 3 vs. 1. Some differences were found between clinics in rejection rate, processes of care, and duration of follow-up.Conclusions Norwegian GPs handle most T2D patients themselves. Those with T2D and severe hyperglycaemia had a considerable benefit from being referred to a DOC, though with two separate trajectories: One where HbA1c improved around the time of referral, and another that improved after starting in a DOC.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2433107Diabetes mellitus, type 2referral and consultationsecondary care centresglycated haemoglobingeneral practice
spellingShingle Kjersti Nøkleby
Anne K. Jenum
Esben Selmer Buhl
Tor Claudi
John G. Cooper
Signe Flottorp
Karianne F. Løvaas
Sverre Sandberg
Tore Julsrud Berg
Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Diabetes mellitus, type 2
referral and consultation
secondary care centres
glycated haemoglobin
general practice
title Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
title_full Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
title_fullStr Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
title_full_unstemmed Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
title_short Effects on HbA1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
title_sort effects on hba1c of referral of type 2 diabetes patients to secondary care
topic Diabetes mellitus, type 2
referral and consultation
secondary care centres
glycated haemoglobin
general practice
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2433107
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