National trends in the prevalence of glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving continuous care in Thailand from 2011 to 2018

Diabetes is one of the largest global health problems and exhibits a constantly increasing trend. A series of nationwide hospital-based cross-sectional surveys of clinical outcomes was performed annually from 2011 to 2015 and 2018 among patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 20 years receiving medical care for at least 12 months. A two-stage stratified cluster that was proportional to the size sampling technique was used to select a nationally and provincially representative sample of patients with type 2 diabetes in Thailand. A total of 186,010 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the study from 2011 to 2018. The prevalence of adequate glycemic control (hemoglobinA1c level < 7.0%) among patients with type 2 diabetes were estimated to be 34.5% (95%CI 33.8–35.2%) in 2011, 33.0% (95%CI 32.4–33.6%) in 2012, 34.7% (95%CI 34.1–35.4%) in 2013, 35.5 (95%CI 34.9–36.1%) in 2014, 35.6 (95%CI 35.0–36.2%) in 2015, and 35.6% (95%CI 35.0–36.2%) in 2018, respectively (p for trend < 0.001). Independent factors related to poor glycemic control (hemoglobinA1c ≥ 7%) were being female, younger aged, living in the northeastern region, received care form hospitals lower than regional level, under universal health coverage scheme, greater duration of diabetes, higher body mass index level and absence of hypertension comorbidity.