1
|
Brennan AT, Lauren E, Bor J, George JA, Chetty K, Mlisana K, Dai A, Khoza S, Rosen S, Stokes AC, Raal F, Hibberd P, Alexanian SM, Fox MP, Crowther NJ. Gaps in the type 2 diabetes care cascade: a national perspective using South Africa's National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) database. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1452. [PMID: 38129852 PMCID: PMC10740239 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10318-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research out of South Africa estimates the total unmet need for care for those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes) at 80%. We evaluated the care cascade using South Africa's National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) database and assessed if HIV infection impacts progression through its stages. METHODS The cohort includes patients from government facilities with their first glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or plasma glucose (fasting (FPG); random (RPG)) measured between January 2012 to March 2015 in the NHLS. Lab-diagnosed diabetes was defined as HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, FPG ≥ 7.0mmol/l, or RPG ≥ 11.1mmol/l. Cascade stages post diagnosis were retention-in-care and glycaemic control (defined as an HbA1c < 7.0% or FPG < 8.0mmol/l or RPG < 10.0mmol/l) over 24-months. We estimated gaps at each stage nationally and by people living with HIV (PLWH) and without (PLWOH). RESULTS Of the 373,889 patients tested for diabetes, 43.2% had an HbA1c or blood glucose measure indicating a diabetes diagnosis. Amongst those with lab-diagnosed diabetes, 30.9% were retained-in-care (based on diabetes labs) and 8.7% reached glycaemic control by 24-months. Prevalence of lab-diagnosed diabetes in PLWH was 28.6% versus 47.3% in PLWOH. Among those with lab-diagnosed diabetes, 34.3% of PLWH were retained-in-care versus 30.3% PLWOH. Among people retained-in-care, 33.8% of PLWH reached glycaemic control over 24-months versus 28.6% of PLWOH. CONCLUSIONS In our analysis of South Africa's NHLS database, we observed that 70% of patients diagnosed with diabetes did not maintain in consistent diabetes care, with fewer than 10% reaching glycemic control within 24 months. We noted a disparity in diabetes prevalence between PLWH and PLWOH, potentially linked to different screening methods. These differences underscore the intricacies in care but also emphasize how HIV care practices could guide better management of chronic diseases like diabetes. Our results underscore the imperative for specialized strategies to bolster diabetes care in South Africa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alana T Brennan
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Evelyn Lauren
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacob Bor
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaya A George
- Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kamy Chetty
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Koleka Mlisana
- Academic Affairs, Research & Quality Assurance, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrew Dai
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Siyabonga Khoza
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Chemical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sydney Rosen
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrew C Stokes
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Frederick Raal
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Patricia Hibberd
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Matthew P Fox
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nigel J Crowther
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Chemical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|