The Quality of Periconception Medical Care in Women With Diabetes Needs Improvement

OBJECTIVEWe evaluated the quality of periconception medical care in pregnant women with diabetes and assessed the influence of sociodemographic characteristics.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThe study was based on retrospective data collection from electronic database on cohort of Israeli women at Clalit Health Services (CHS) with pre-existing diabetes who gave birth in 2008-2011. It included data on A1C and other laboratory test results, prescription fillings, diet and ophthalmology consultations, and sociodemographics extracted from CHS computerized systems. The performance of each of nine recommended measures in the periconception period and a composite quality score was evaluated; the score ranged from 0-8. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine independent sociodemographic predictors of low-quality overall scores.RESULTSA total of 166 women gave birth to 180 infants; the performance of the different quality parameters ranged from 81% for A1C and kidney function tests to only 30% for dietary consultation and 41.1% for ophthalmology exam. Forty-nine percent of women had A1C <7.0% (53 mmol/mol). Only 45% took folic acid, whereas 13.9% continued the use of potentially teratogenic drugs in the first trimester. One-third of women were in the low-quality (0-3) overall score. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the only significant variables to predict lower composite quality scores were multiparity odds ratio of 3.43 (95% CI 1.66-7.10; P = 0.001), Arabian ethnicity 3.76 (1.78-7.92; P = 0.001), and immigrant 3.73 (1.25-11.16; P = 0.018).CONCLUSIONSThe periconception medical care of diabetic women is suboptimal. More intensive and targeted care is needed in order to optimize periconception care of diabetic patients, especially in the high-risk subpopulations.