Long-term quality-of-care score for predicting the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease(CVD)is the leading cause of death globally,and diabetes mellitus(DM)is a well-established risk factor.Among the risk factors for CVD,DM is a major modifiable factor.In the fatal CVD outcomes,acute myocardial infarction(AMI)is the most common cause of death.AIM To develop a long-term quality-of-care score for predicting the occurrence of AMI among patients with type 2 DM on the basis of the hypothesis that good quality of care can reduce the risk of AMI in patients with DM.METHODS Using Taiwan’s Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients Database and the medical charts of a medical center,we identified incident patients diagnosed with type 2 DM from 1999 to 2003 and followed them until 2011.We constructed a summary quality-of-care score(with values ranging from 0 to 8)with process indicators(frequencies of HbA1c and lipid profile testing and urine,foot and retinal examinations),intermediate outcome indicators(low-density lipoprotein,blood pressure and HbA1c),and co-morbidity of hypertension.The associations between the score and the incidence of AMI were evaluated using Cox regression models.RESULTS A total of 7351 patients who had sufficient information to calculate the score were enrolled.In comparison with participants who had scores≤1,those with scores between 2 and 4 had a lower risk of developing AMI[adjusted hazard ratio(AHR)=0.71;95% confidence interval(95%CI):0.55-0.90],and those with scores≥5 had an even lower risk(AHR=0.37;95%CI:0.21-0.66).CONCLUSION Good quality of care can reduce the risk of AMI in patients with type 2 DM.The quality-of-care score developed in this study had a significant association with the risk of AMI and thus can be applied to guiding the care for these patients.

Benefits of implementing a rapid access clinic in a high-volume inflammatory bowel disease center:Access, resource utilization and outcomes

BACKGROUND Emergency situations in inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)put significant burden on both the patient and the healthcare system.AIM To prospectively measure Quality-of-Care indicators and resource utilization after the implementation of the new rapid access clinic service(RAC)at a tertiary IBD center.METHODS Patient access,resource utilization and outcome parameters were collected from consecutive patients contacting the RAC between July 2017 and March 2019 in this observational study.For comparing resource utilization and healthcare costs,emergency department(ED)visits of IBD patients with no access to RAC services were evaluated between January 2018 and January 2019.Time to appointment,diagnostic methods,change in medical therapy,unplanned ED visits,hospitalizations and surgical admissions were calculated and compared.RESULTS 488 patients(Crohn’s disease:68.4%/ulcerative colitis:31.6%)contacted the RAC with a valid medical reason.Median time to visit with an IBD specialist following the index contact was 2 d.Patients had objective clinical and laboratory assessment(C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin in 91%and 73%).Fast-track colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy was performed in 24.6%of the patients,while computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in only 8.1%.Medical therapy was changed in 54.4%.ED visits within 30 d following the RAC visit occurred in 8.8%(unplanned ED visit rate:5.9%).Diagnostic procedures and resource utilization at the ED(n=135 patients)were substantially different compared to RAC users:Abdominal computed tomography was more frequent(65.7%,P<0.001),coupled with multiple specialist consults,more frequent hospital admission(P<0.001),higher steroid initiation(P<0.001).Average medical cost estimates of diagnostic procedures and services per patient was$403 CAD vs$1885 CAD comparing all RAC and ED visits.CONCLUSION Implementation of a RAC improved patient care by facilitating easier access to IBD specific medical care,optimized resource utilization and helped avoiding ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations.