Understanding the Gap Between Good Processes of Diabetes Care and Poor Intermediate Outcomes

Background: Performance of diabetes clinical care processes has improved recently, but control of hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and other vascular disease risk factors has improved more slowly. Objectives: To identify patient factors associated with control of vascular disease risk factors among diabetes patients receiving recommended care processes. Population: Managed care enrollees who participated in the TRIAD (Translating Research into Action for Diabetes) Study and received at least 5 of 7 recommended care processes during the 12 months before the second survey (2002-2003). Methods: Comparison of 1003 patients with good control of A1c (