Identifying gaps in the continuum of care for hypertension and diabetes among diagnosed patients visiting selected primary healthcare facility in Bangalore—A cross-sectional study
Saranya Rajavel, Sathiabalan M, Suresh K Kumbhar
A
BSTRACT
Background:
A continuum of care approach is an important public health tool that can provide crucial understanding into all stages of disease progression, from prevention through to long-term care, and would enable consolidation of efforts to control non-communicable diseases.
Aim:
To assess the current screening, diagnosis, management, and follow-up practices for hypertension and diabetes among diagnosed patients visiting selected primary healthcare facility in Bangalore.
Objectives:
To determine the association between continuum of care and treatment adherence as well as disease control status among hypertensive and diabetic patients.
Methodology:
It was an analytical cross-sectional study which was conducted among diagnosed diabetic and hypertensive patients attended urban and rural primary health centre. A total of two urban and two rural Primary Health Centres were selected. The sample size was calculated and fixed to 258 patients.
Results:
The mean age of the participants was 60.18 ± 1.03 years, ranging from 21 to 85 years. Around 62.0% of participants were ever screened for diabetes/hypertension any time before diagnosis. Around one-third of patients missed medication due to the unavailability of medicines, and only 58.6% were adhered good to treatment. Out of 258 participants, only 147 (57.0%) were tested for complications and only 21 (8.1%) were under treatment for these complications. Less than half of the participants, i.e. 42.6%, have controlled disease status.
Conclusion:
We found high rates of uncontrolled diabetes and undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension. Lower-level health facilities were constrained by capacity to test, monitor, and treat diabetes and hypertension and its complications.