Clinical and Economic Benefits Associated With the Achievement of Both HbA(1c) and LDL Cholesterol Goals in Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the clinical and economic benefits associated with dual-goal achievement, glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) <7% (53 mmol/mol) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) <100 mg/dL, with achievement of only the LDL-C goal or only the HbA(1c) goal in veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis evaluated electronic medical records (Veterans Integrated Service Network 16) in adult T2DM patients with two or more measurements of LDL-C and HbA(1c) between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2010 (N = 75,646). Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare microvascular and cardiovascular outcomes by goal achievement status; generalized linear regression models were used to assess diabetes-related resource utilization (hospitalization days and number of outpatient visits) and medical service costs. RESULTS: Relative to achievement of only the LDL-C goal, dual-goal achievement was associated with lower risk of microvascular complications (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.79), acute coronary syndrome (0.88), percutaneous coronary intervention (0.78), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (0.74); it was also associated with fewer hospitalization days (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 0.93) and outpatient visits (0.88), as well as lower diabetes-related annual medical costs (−$130.89). Compared with achievement of only the HbA(1c) goal, dual-goal achievement was associated with lower risk of the composite cardiovascular-related end point (aHR 0.87) and CABG (aHR 0.62), as well as fewer outpatient visits (aIRR 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving both HbA(1c) and LDL-C goals in diabetes care is associated with additional clinical and economic benefits, as compared with the achievement of either goal alone.