Table 1 Patient characteristics and healthcare in 2006 and uncorrected number of referrals to internists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists and mental healthcare in 2004 and 2006 for newly diagnosed and known diabetes patients.
From: Primary care nurses: effects on secondary care referrals for diabetes
| Â | Newly diagnosed diabetes patients | Known diabetes patients |
|---|---|---|
Patient characteristics | Â | Â |
Gender2 (male) | 50.2% (226) | 47.2% (1705) |
Age1 (in years) | 61.4 (SD:14.1) | 67.1 (SD:11.9) |
Distance to hospital1 (km) | 8.6 (SD:6.9) | 8.3 (SD:7.1) |
Related comorbidity2 | 19.1% (86) | 19.6% (633) |
Unrelated comorbidity2 | 39.3% (177) | 35.1% (1133) |
Healthcare utilisation in 2006 | Â | Â |
Diabetes guidance per year2 | 21.1% (95) | 17.8% (575) |
Number of diabetes contacts | Â | Â |
   Total1 | 1.8 (SD:1.04) | 1.8 (SD: 0.98) |
   PCN-practice1 | 1.8 (SD:1.05) | 1.8 (SD: 0.99) |
   Non-PCN-practice1 | 1.7 (SD:1.02) | 1.6 (SD: 0.90) |
Referral rates | Â | Â |
Internist2 | Â | Â |
   2004 | 7.3% (22) | 5.7% (121) |
   2006 | 3.3% (15) | 4.9% (158) |
Ophthalmologist2 | Â | Â |
   2004 | 25.2% (76) | 10.4% (221) |
   2006 | 29.1% (131) | 12.8% (413) |
Cardiologist2 | Â | Â |
   2004 | 2.3% (7) | 3.1% (66) |
   2006 | 3.3% (15) | 3.1% (98) |
Mental healthcare 2 | Â | Â |
   2004 | 0.7% (2) | 1.0% (22) |
   2006 | 1.8% (8) | 0.7% (24) |