Type 2 diabetes care for patients in a tertiary care setting in UAE: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the quality of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) care in Al-Ain, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2010. SETTING: A diabetes centre located in a tertiary care hospital in Al-Ain, UAE. PARTICIPANTS: People with T2DM receiving care from the diabetes centre. RESULTS: 382 Emirates patients with T2DM were included in the analysis. Overall in 2010, proportions of people with T2DM reaching the following targets were: glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 41%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 72%, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) 47% and 73%, respectively. There was a significant improvement from 2008 to 2010, respectively, in the mean for the following: (1) HbA1c (8.5% [95% confidence interval, CI: 8.33–8.67] versus 7.5% [95% CI: 7.36–7.63]); (2) LDL (2.60 mmol/L [95% CI: 2.51–2.70] versus 2.27 mmol/L [95% CI: 2.21–2.33]); and (3) SBP (133.1 mmHg [95% CI: 131.7–134.4] versus 131.0 [95% CI: 130.1–131.9]). Glycaemic and lipid control were similar in men and women; however, HbA1c levels in men and women aged 60+ years were significantly lower by (0.7% [P = 0.01] versus 0.8% [P < 0.001], respectively) than for those aged between 18 and 39 years. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there is encouraging progress in diabetes care in Al-Ain, UAE as reflected by the overall improvement in the mean of HbA1c, LDL and SBP, and the increase in the number of people reaching the target for the same indicators from 2008 to 2010. The results however show that there is scope for additional enhancement of care, especially for better glycaemic control among young patients and better SBP control among men.