ObjectivesThe objectives of the study were to assess glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) at a tertiary care diabetes centre in Ningbo, China and to determine factors that independently predict their glycaemic control.DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study using an existing database, the Diabetes Information Management System.SettingTertiary care diabetes centre in Ningbo, China.ParticipantsThe study included adult patients with T2DM, registered and received treatment at the diabetes centre for at least six consecutive months. The study inclusion criteria were satisfied by 1387 patients, from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2017.Primary outcome measureGlycaemic control (poor was defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)>=7% or fasting blood glucose (FBG)>7.0 mmol/L).ResultsIn terms of HbA1c and FBG, the 5-year period prevalence of poor glycaemic control was 50.3% and 57.3%, respectively. In terms of HbA1c and FBG, the odds of poor glycaemic control increased with the duration of T2DM (>1 to 2 years: OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.19; >2 to 4 years: 3.32, 1.88 to 5.85 and >4 years: 5.98, 4.09 to 8.75 and >1 to 2 years: 2.10, 1.22 to 3.62; >2 to 4 years: 2.48, 1.42 to 4.34 and >4 years: 3.34, 2.32 to 4.80) and were higher in patients residing in rural areas (1.68, 1.24 to 2.28 and 1.42, 1.06 to 1.91), with hyperlipidaemia (1.57, 1.12 to 2.19 and 1.68, 1.21 to 2.33), on diet, physical activity and oral hypoglycaemic drug (OHD) as part of their T2DM therapeutic regimen (1.80, 1.01 to 3.23 and 2.40, 1.36 to 4.26) and on diet, physical activity, OHD and insulin (2.47, 1.38 to 4.41 and 2.78, 1.58 to 4.92), respectively.ConclusionsMore than half of patients with T2DM at the diabetes centre in Ningbo, China have poor glycaemic control, and the predictors of glycaemic control were identified. The study findings could be taken into consideration in future interventional studies aimed at improving glycaemic control in these patients.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of polypharmacy prescription among type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients at a tertiary care department in Ningbo, China, and to determine factors that independently predict this polypharmacy prescription.

To determine the prevalence of vascular complications among inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and factors independently associated with vascular complications in a tertiary care department in Ningbo, China, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study using an existing computerised medical records database. A total of 3370 adult patients with T2DM were admitted to this tertiary care department for the first time between 2012 and 2017. Patients were categorised as those (1) with at least one vascular complication, (2) with at least one microvascular complication, and (3) with at least one macrovascular complication. Over 5 years, the prevalence of vascular, microvascular, and macrovascular complications among inpatients with T2DM was 73.2%, 57.5%, and 51.4%, respectively. The odds of vascular, microvascular, and macrovascular complications increased with age and were higher in patients with hypertension. The odds of vascular and microvascular complications were higher in single, divorced, or widowed patients, patients with T2DM for a long time, and patients on advanced T2DM therapeutic regimen. The odds of vascular and macrovascular complications were lower in women. The odds of microvascular complications decreased with education. The odds of macrovascular complications were higher in smokers. In conclusion, in the tertiary care department, more than half of inpatients with T2DM had vascular complications, and factors independently associated with vascular complications were identified. The study findings could be used in future interventional studies to prevent and manage vascular complications among these patients.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of comorbidities in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and identify the factors independently associated with comorbidities in a tertiary care department in Ningbo, China.DesignA computerised medical records database was used to conduct a cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted in a tertiary care department in Ningbo, China.ParticipantsThe study was conducted on adult patients with T2DM, and it included 8 years of data, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2019.The primary outcome measureComorbidity was defined as the coexistence of at least one other chronic condition, that is, either a physical non-communicable disease (duration ≥3 months), a mental health condition (duration ≥3 months) or an infectious disease (duration ≥3 months).ResultsIn total, 4777 patients with T2DM satisfied the eligibility criteria. Over 8 years, the prevalence of comorbidities was 93.7%. The odds of comorbidities increased with the age of patients (18 to 39 years: 1; 40 to 59 years: OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.98 to 3.96; 60 to 69 years: OR 4.43, 95% CI 3.04 to 6.44; and ≥70 years: OR 10.97, 95% CI 7.17 to 16.77). The odds were lower in female patients (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.84), patients residing in rural areas (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.95) and patients without health insurance (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.83). The odds were higher in single/divorced/widowed patients compared with those in married patients (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.12).ConclusionsA large percentage of patients with T2DM in the tertiary care department in Ningbo, China, had comorbidities, and the factors associated with comorbidities were identified. The findings could be used in developing, evaluating and implementing interventions aimed at improving outcomes in patients with T2DM with comorbidities.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a weight management programme in Ningbo, China. Methods: A pre-and post-intervention study was conducted in Ningbo. The study duration was from 01 July 2015 to 30 September 2017. Those aged 18-65 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥24 kg/m 2 (i.e., overweight/obese) and were willing to comply with the weight management programme were included in the study. The programme, focusing on lifestyle modification, was delivered by a multidisciplinary team over a period of 3-months. The study parameters were recruitment rate, follow-up rates at 3-and 6-month and standard deviation (SD) of the outcome measure (i.e., BMI). Results: Out of 261 people who gave written informed consent and were screened for eligibility, 193 (74%) were found eligible and were enrolled on to the programme. Those who enrolled on to the programme, 185 (96%) and 169 (88%) were followed up at 3-and 6-month, respectively. The SD of the outcome measure was 4.85. BMI reduced at 3-month follow-up (−1.98, 95% CI −2.19 to −1.79, p < 0.001) and at 6-month follow-up (−2.42, −2.71 to −2.11, <0.001). Conclusion: Based on the promising recruitment and follow-up rates in this study, it would be feasible to undertake the RCT of the weight management programme for overweight and obese adults in Ningbo. The SD of the outcome measure is used to calculate the sample size of the RCT.