CHRISTUS Medical Group Quality Measures
Diabetes Management – Blood Pressure
Why is this important?
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million adults and children (7 percent of the U.S. population) who have diabetes. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 6.2 million, or nearly one-third, are unaware they even have the disease.
Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States. If the present trends continue, one in three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime.
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious complications. It is the leading cause of kidney failure and new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age, and adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk for stroke is also two to four times higher among people with diabetes.
Good diabetes management can help reduce these risks.
Who needs to have their Blood Pressure tested regularly?
This measure applies to CMG’s Family Practice and Internal Medicine providers (physicians, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants). Twice a year, CMG audits patient charts to ensure that patients ages 18 to 75 who have been diagnosed with diabetes for at least six months have had their blood pressure checked at every visit. The current score listed is based on the June 2008 audit.
Managing blood pressure is important, because high blood pressure raises the risk for a heart attack, stroke, eye problems and kidney disease. Because patients with diabetes are at increased risk for all of these complications, their blood pressure should be monitored closely. It is CMG's goal that diabetes patients' blood pressure be less than 135/80.
When measuring blood pressure, the first number is the pressure as the heart beats and pushes blood into the blood vessels. The second number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats and the vessels relax.
