AIMS Aim of the present study is to compare control of hyperglycaemia and other diabetes-related cardiovascular risk factors during the years 1998 and 2006 and to estimate the change in the cost of medications prescribed for this purpose. METHODS We compared the medical records of all patients who were regularly followed in three major diabetes centers located in Athens and Piraeus, Greece, during 1998, with those who were examined at the same centers during 2006. The cost of medications was calculated in Euros per patient-year (euroPY), using the 2006 official Greek market prices. RESULTS A total of 1 743 eligible files were included in the study (805 files from 1998 and 938 from 2006). HbA (1c), LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure improved significantly in 2006 as compared to 1998 (7.0% vs. 8.1%, 2.9 mmol/l vs. 3.9 mmol/l and 134.9/77.6 mmHg vs. 139.3/80.9 mmHg respectively, p<0.001 for all comparisons). Treatment of hyperglycaemia was more intense and had a different pattern in 2006. The proportion of patients receiving antihypertensive, hypolipidaemic and antiplatelet drugs increased from 48.8% to 74.4%, from 15.2% to 61.2% and from 17.6% to 51.1% respectively (p<0.001 for all comparisons). A highly significant increase in the cost per patient-year was observed for all classes of medications in 2006. The total cost of all diabetes-related medications increased in 2006 by 221.1% (from 341.3+/-276.0 euroPY to 1095.8+/-634.1 euroPY). CONCLUSIONS Control of cardiovascular risk factors of patients with T2D, regularly followed by diabetes specialists, improved significantly in 2006 as compared to 1998. This improvement, however, was associated with a considerable increase in the cost of medications prescribed for treatment of these parameters.

IntroductionThe satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) is a brief five-item measure of global life satisfaction rated on a Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). It is noted as one of the most popular scales in the measurement of life satisfaction.ObjectivesTo test the psychometric properties of SWLS.AimsTo create a valid measurement, easy to use for primary care and during treatment assessment in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), emotional disorder (ED) and general population (GP).MethodsTranslation of SWLS was performed using the multiple forward and backward translation protocol. Life orientation test (GrLOT-R), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), was also administered to check construct validity of SWLS.Results809 adults participated, 175 (21.6%) male, 634 (78.4%) female. The total scale of the SWLS had a coefficient alpha of .831. Item - total correlations where from .253-.783. Factor analysis has supported a unidimensional model with 1 factor explaining 68% of the total variance. Mean scores differed significantly between GP (M = 21 ± 6.3), DM (19.1 ± 6.2) and ED (M = 17.2 ± 6.9) (Mean differences = 1.847 and 3.723 p < .001 respectively). There was significant negative correlation with stress (r = -.297 p < .001), anxiety (-.297 p < .001) and depression (r = -.499 p < .001) and positive correlation with GrLOT-R (r = .499 p < .001).ConclusionsThe results of the current validation study suggest that the Greek translation of the SWLS is both reliable and valid, with good construct and discriminant validity and psychometric properties close to those reported in the international literature.

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IntroductionResearch has suggested that individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are twice as likely to suffer from depression, compared with the general population. In addition, women with DM show increased risk for developing depression or depressive symptomsObjectivesTo compare the self evaluation DM patients with depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS).AimsTo reveille the possible gender differences, regarding depression anxiety and stress in DM.Methods272 DM patients (74(27.2%) males / 198(72.8%) females), in two outpatients’ clinics in Athens-Greece took part in the study. DASS was used for the evaluation of depression. Statistical analysis was were performed with SPSS-16.0.ResultsWomen had a significantly higher mean score (MA = 6.9 ± 7.2) in anxiety and depression (MD = 8.1 ± 7.4) than men (MA = 4.8 ± 4.6) and (MD = 4.7 ± 5.6), (T = -2.543 p < .05) and (T = -2.812 p < .05) respectively. Women had also a significant difference concerning depression comorbidity, with more women (21,2%) suffering from depressive disorder than men (5,4%), chi square test = 9.578 p < .05.ConclusionsAnalysis revealed that female gender is a significant risk factor for negative feelings and depressive comorbidity among patients with DM.

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