Reducing health inequalities among most disadvantaged type 2 diabetes patients: A cross-sectional exploratory pilot study

Abstract

Background: Demographic changes and the increased chronical diseases burden are global challenges that cannot go unnoticed by healthcare systems, which must be organized without losing sight of the increasing influence of social determinants. Aim: To evaluate the results of a primary care program implemented to reduce health inequalities associated with social determinants in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: An exploratory pilot retrospective cross-sectional study that includes secondary data of 404 nonrandomized patients belonging to socially depressed areas and conventional areas. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: The age of the subjects included in the study was 66.80 ± 9.7 years with a proportion of 56.7% men. Proportions of patients from socially depressed areas and adherence to the Nursing Follow-up Program were around 33% and 60%, respectively. The obesity rate was 51%, percentage of patients with HbA1c<7% was 59%. No significant differences were found between patients belonging to socially depressed areas and those who do not, except for greater adherence to nursing follow-up programs. Multivariate models assessed chronical complications as health outcomes (cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, and nephropathy) as health outcomes showing the influence of previously described risk factors. However, in none of the models did belonging to a socially depressed area or adherence to the Nursing Follow-up Program were predictors. Conclusions: The program has proven to be efficient in equating the health outcomes related with cardiovascular risk of patients from both types of areas. Well-directed health policies could bring primary care systems closer to sustainable development goals through the reduction of health disparities that affect socially vulnerable groups. Clinical relevance: To introduce a risk strategy and to adopt a family approach, contemplating the sociocultural and educational differences that diversely affect men and women in their health status has proven to be useful in reducing health disparities due to social determinants in patients with type 2 diabetes.