A diabetes scorecard does not improve HbA_1c, blood pressure, lipids, aspirin usage, exercise and diabetes knowledge over 9 months: a randomized controlled trial
Diabetic Medicine, 08/29/2012

Irwig MS et al. – A diabetes scorecard did not improve glycaemic control, blood pressure control, LDL cholesterol, aspirin usage, exercise or diabetic knowledge in an urban population with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

• Five physicians enrolled 103 patients ≥ 40 years old with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes [HbA1c ≥ 64 mmol/mol (8.0%)] to randomly receive either a diabetes scorecard or not during four clinical visits over a 9-month period.
• The population was predominantly urban with a disproportionately higher percentage of black people than the general population.
• The scorecard assigned points to six clinical variables, with a perfect total score of 100 points corresponding to meeting all targets.
• The primary outcomes were total scores and HbA1c in the scorecard and control groups at 9 months.

Results

• There were no significant differences between the control and scorecard groups at visits 1 and 4 in total score, HbA1c, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, aspirin usage, exercise or knowledge about diabetic targets.
• By visit 4 both the control and scorecard groups had statistically significant improvements with their mean total score (9 and 7 points, respectively), HbA1c [-9 mmol/mol (-0.8%) and -15 mmol/mol (-1.4%), respectively] and aspirin usage (33% increase and 16% increase, respectively).
• Rates of clinical inertia were low throughout the study.