Objective:

The aim of the study is to know the changes in the degree of control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Spanish health center (public, SESCAM) and a Portuguese health center (Functional Health Unit) after a two-year follow-up period.

Design:

Cohort study.

Location:

Primary Care.

Participants:

Patients with type 2 diabetes who were reviewed two years after a first control (July and November 2014, respectively in Portugal and Spain).

Main measurements:

The data obtained from the computerized clinical records were sex, age, years of disease course, body mass index (BMI), microalbuminuria, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, complications, and treatment. The information was entered into a computerized database with the statistical program SPSS 17.0. Descriptive statistics and comparison of proportions and means/medians were performed.

Results:

200 Portuguese patients and 278 Spanish patients were studied in 2014. Information on their clinical follow-up was available two years after for 135 Portuguese and 248 Spanish. The mean age of these patients in 2016 was 71.2 years (SD: 11.0), with 46.0% of women. There were no differences in the distribution by age and sex in both centers.

The median of variation in HbA1c after 2 years was 0.0 (interquartile range:-0.4 to 0.5), without statistically significant (NS) differences for Portuguese patients and moderate increase (p=0.05) for Spanish patients. The Portuguese presented a mean BMI decrease of 0.05 (95%CI:-0.27 to 0.37) and Spanish patients had a mean increase of 0.07 (95%CI:-0.27 to 0.41), NS differences.

Conclusion:

After 2 years of follow-up, Portuguese patients showed a slight weight reduction, with stability in their HbA1c levels, while Spanish patients worsened slightly in both parameters.

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