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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Care | Research

Use of primary health care services among older patients with and without diabetes

Authors: Anna-Kaisa Aro, Merja Karjalainen, Miia Tiihonen, Hannu Kautiainen, Juha Saltevo, Maija Haanpää, Pekka Mäntyselkä

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the utilization of primary healthcare services by older patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Electronic patient records were used to identify persons over 65 years of age with a diagnosis of diabetes. Two age- and sex-adjusted controls without diabetes were extracted for each person with diagnosis of diabetes. A health questionnaire was sent by mail to 527 people with diabetes and 890 controls. Of the persons who answered the questionnaire, 518 persons were randomly selected to participate in a health examination. The study group in this analysis consisted of 187 persons with diabetes and 176 persons without diabetes who attended the health examination. The data on primary health care utilization were extracted from electronic patient records one year before and one after the health examination.

Results

Before the onset of the study, the patients with diabetes had more doctor’s appointments (p < 0.001), nurse’s appointments (< 0.001) and laboratory tests taken (p < 0.001) than those without diabetes After 1-year follow-up period the patients with diabetes had more doctor’s appointments (p = 0.002), nurse’s appointments (p = 0.006), laboratory tests taken (p = 0.006) and inpatient care at the community hospital (p = 0.004) than patients without a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The use of the community hospital increased significantly among patients with diabetes (ratio 2.50; 95% Cl 1.16–5.36) but not by patients without diabetes (ratio 0.91; 95% Cl 0.40.2.06). The number of nurse’s appointments increased for patients without diabetes (ratio 1.31; 95% Cl 1.07–1.60) but not for those with diabetes (ratio 1.04; 95% Cl 0.88–1.24).

Conclusions

Patients with diabetes visit more often physicians and nurses compared with those without diabetes. During a 1-year follow-up, the use of community hospital care increased significantly among patients with diabetes. In addition to focusing on prevention and care of diabetes, these results suggest the importance of diabetes in planning community-based health care services.

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Title: Use of primary health care services among older patients with and without diabetes
Authors: Anna-Kaisa Aro
Merja Karjalainen
Miia Tiihonen
Hannu Kautiainen
Juha Saltevo
Maija Haanpää
Pekka Mäntyselkä
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Care
Type 2 Diabetes
Published in: BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01844-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Use of primary health care services among older patients with and without diabetes

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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