A preliminary study of the relationship between general practice care and hospitalisation using a diabetes register, CARDIAB

作者：Comino Elizabeth J^*; Duong Thuy Tran; Taggart Jane R; Liaw Siaw Teng; Ruscoe Warwick; Snow Jill M; Harris Mark F

来源：Australian Health Review, 2013, 37(2): 210-217.

DOI：10.1071/AH12175

Background. Diabetes can be effectively managed in general practice (GP). This study used record linkage to explore associations between diabetes care in GP and hospitalisation.
Methods. Data on patients with type 2 diabetes were extracted from a Division of GP diabetes register (CARDIAB) for 2002-05 and were linked to the New South Wales Admitted Patient and Emergency Department (ED) Data Collection to create a unit record data collection containing demographic, clinical and health service records. Rates of admission and ED presentation per patient-year of follow up were calculated for the year following CARDIAB record.
Results. The study included 1178 diabetic patients with 2959 patient-years of follow up. Their mean age was 65.7 years and duration of diabetes was 5.9 years. All-cause admission and ED presentation rates were 0.7 and 0.2 per patient-year of follow up respectively and length of admission 3.2 days (s.d. 11.7 days). Admission was associated with age, duration of diabetes and prior admission. The number of processes of care recorded for each patient-year was associated with admission. Admission and length of stay were not associated with achievement of clinical targets.
Conclusions. These data suggest that receipt of processes of care, rather than clinical targets, will prevent admission. One explanation may be that continuity of care in GP provides opportunity for early intervention and treatment.

• 出版日期2013