| Summary: | Aims: To analyse predictors of glycaemic control including medication adherence and body mass index (BMI) in UK general practice patients with sub-optimally controlled type 2 diabetes. Methods: Baseline demographic, health- and treatment-related measures were evaluated as predictors of one year glycaemic control defined separately as HbA 1c≤7.5% and a continuous measure of HbA 1c concentration, using multivariate regression models. Significant predictors were adjusted for objectively assessed medication adherence and BMI. Results: One-year HbA 1c concentration was associated with baseline HbA 1c (p<0.001), BMI (p=0.02), and inversely associated with age (p=0.007) and objectively assessed adherence. Adherent patients had one-year (adjusted) HbA 1c concentration 0.65% (95% CI -1.04, -0.25; p=0.001) lower than nonadherent. Odds ratios (95% CI) of HbA 1c≤7.5% for 10-year higher age were 1.63 (1.08, 2.45); for adherent compared to non-adherent patients 1.89 (0.84, 4.25); for patients receiving >5 compared to ≤5 medications 0.32 (0.13, 0.76); and for each 1% increment in baseline HbA 1c 0.48 (0.31, 0.73). Conclusions: The lower HbA 1c achieved from greater adherence to glucose lowering treatment is comparable to that achieved with additional medication. Relationships between older age and better glycaemic control are not explained by better adherence, but may partly relate to lower BMI. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
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