3 research outputs found
Diabetes-dependent quality of life (ADDQOL) and affecting factors in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in Greece
Management of type 2 diabetes and its prescription drug cost before and during the economic crisis in Greece: an observational study
Background: The aim of the present study is to examine the clinical
indices related to cardiovascular risk management of Greek patients with
type 2 diabetes, before and after the major economic crisis that emerged
in the country.
Methods: In this retrospective database study, the medical records of
patients with type 2 diabetes treated at three diabetes outpatient
centers of the national health system during 2006 and 2012 were
examined. Only patients with at least six months of follow-up prior to
the recorded examination were included. The prescription cost was
calculated in Euros per patient-year ((sic)PY).
Results: A total of 1953 medical records (938 from 2006 and 1015 from
2012) were included. There were no significant differences in adjusted
HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and HDL-C, while significant reductions
were observed in LDL-C and triglycerides. In 2012, a higher proportion
of patients were prescribed glucose-lowering, lipid-lowering and
antihypertensive medications. Almost 4 out of 10 patients were
prescribed the new incretin-based medications, while the use of older
drugs, except for metformin, decreased. A significant increase in the
adjusted glucose-lowering prescription cost (612.4 [586.5-638.2]
(sic)PY vs 390.7 [363.5-418.0]; p < 0.001) and total prescription cost
(1306.7 [1264.6-1348.7] (sic)PY vs 1122.3 [1078.1-1166.5]; p <
0.001) was observed. The cost of antihypertensive prescriptions
declined, while no difference was observed for lipid-lowering and
antiplatelet agents.
Conclusions: During the economic crisis, the cardiovascular risk indices
of Greek patients with type 2 diabetes being followed in public
outpatient diabetes clinics did not deteriorate and in the case of lipid
profile improved. However, the total prescription cost increased, mainly
due to the higher cost of glucose-lowering prescriptions