Trends in glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control in adults with diabetes in Switzerland

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne. Introduction Good glycemic, blood pressure and lipid control in adults with diabetes reduces complications and improves health outcomes, particularly when achieved simultaneously. Therefore, regular monitoring and successfully achieving control targets are essential in diabetes management. Purpose To assess the 15-year trends in the level of glycemic, blood pressure and cholesterol control in adults with diabetes in Switzerland. Methods Data from a population-based cohort study of 6,733 adults aged 35-75 years in Switzerland was analyzed. Baseline recruitment in 2003-2006 was followed by three subsequent follow-ups between 2009-2012, 2014-2017 and 2018-2021. In adults with diabetes, glycemic control was defined as fasting plasma glucose <7 mmol/L, blood pressure control as systolic and diastolic pressures of <140/90 mmHg, and non-HDL cholesterol control <3.4 mmol/L. Results Rates of glycemic control improved from 23.2% (95% CI, 19.5-27.3) in 2003-2006 to 32.8% (95% CI, 28.1-37.8) in 2018-2021. Blood pressure control also improved, from 51.5% at baseline (95% CI, 46.8-56.2) to 63.3% (95% CI, 58.2-68.1) 15 years later. The largest improvement was in non-HDL cholesterol control, from 29.1% (95% CI, 25.1-33.6) in 2003-2006 to 56.3% (95% CI, 51.1-61.4) in 2018-2021. Overall, simultaneous control of all three improved from 5.5% (95% CI, 3.7-8.1) at baseline to 17.2% (95% CI, 13.7-21.5) 15 years later. Improvements in risk factor control was accompanied by increases in the use of glucose-lowering agents, blood pressure-lowering medication and statins. Men were less likely to achieve blood pressure control but were more likely to achieve non-HDL cholesterol control. Caucasians were less likely to achieve simultaneous control than non-Caucasians. Conclusion Risk factor control in Swiss diabetes patients has improved in the last 15 years.