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Scotland’s systematic approach to diabetes care yielded positive outcomes
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EASD 47th Annual Meeting
LISBON — Scotland recently implemented a nationwide informatics research development program that has since been associated with yearly improvements in diabetes care processes and outcomes.
The program aims to position Scotland at the forefront of diabetes care internationally, with an added benefit of producing a translational biomedical infrastructure for diabetes research and development, according to Andrew Morris, FRSE, FMedSci, professor of medicine and director of the Biomedical Research Institute at University of Dundee, Scotland, who discussed the country's advances at a symposium focused on diabetes care in Europe.
The population of Scotland is approximately 5 million people. The country put into action an electronic data linkage and collaboration at every hospital and all 1,200 general practices to create a clinical informatics system for the 240,000 people with diabetes living there. The current prevalence of diabetes in Scotland is 4.9% and is rising by about 10% per year, according to Morris.
During a 5- to 7-year period of study, the systematic approach was associated with a 40% reduction in amputations related to diabetes and a 43% reduction in laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
Morris also discussed how integrated, population-based National Health Service datasets and disease registries facilitated recruitment into clinical trials, with an annual 14% increase in the number of trials based in Scotland. The system allowed for automated, efficient follow-up of events and treatment response, according to Morris.
Scotland’s national informatics platform has also been used for pharmacovigilance reporting; electronic trial monitoring; and the conduct of large-scale, genetic case-control, pharmacogenetic and family-based studies. Large-scale consented DNA collections have been linked to routinely collect data on new diabetes susceptibility genes and pharmacogenetics to help determine how genes influence response to commonly prescribed diabetes drugs.
“This approach to developing a secure, resilient, integrated information environment has created a unique nationwide approach to diabetes care research and development with concrete evidence to benefits to the quality of care and research capability,” Morris said in a press release. – by Katie Kalvaitis
Disclosure: Dr. Morris reports no relevant financial disclosures.
For more information:
- Morris A. Diabetes care in Europe: Striving for excellence. Gearing an entire country for diabetes care and research: The Scottish experience. Presented at: The European Association for the Study of Diabetes 47th Annual Meeting; Sept. 12-16, 2011; Lisbon.
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