Diabetes diagnosed earlier when patient is better known

Experts say a new study adds more evidence that continuity of care is valuable.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. April 17, 2006.

Getting to know a patient might pay off in being able to diagnose type 2 diabetes at an earlier stage, according to a study published in the April issue of Family Practice.

"Most [general practice doctors] believe this is true," said Dr. Thomas Drivsholm, lead author and a senior researcher at the University of Copenhagen. "This study shows that there may well be an effect of knowing your patients well."

Researchers analyzed the results of the Diabetes Care in General Practice study, a randomized controlled trial of structured diabetes treatment in the primary care setting in Denmark. They found that being better acquainted with a patient correlated with a lower hemoglobin A1C at diagnosis.

The authors suggest the diagnostic delay in unfamiliar patients could be about four years, although this could not be shown definitively by this study, and this might be generalized to other chronic conditions. "GPs should be very aware that, with patients who they don't know well, there is a chance that they have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes that is undiagnosed," Dr. Drivsholm said.

Experts praised the study for adding more scientific weight to the argument that continuity of care can translate into improved patient outcomes.