27 August 2007
Diabetes Registry: One in Seven Diabetic Patients has Poor Blood Sugar Control; Three in Five have Poor Cholesterol Control

The National Healthcare Group (NHG) Diabetes Registry, the first in Singapore and the region, has released its first set of data. It showed that one in seven patients with diabetes mellitus has poor blood sugar control (HbA1c > 9%) and three in five have poor cholesterol control (LDL-c > 2.6mmol/L). This is the first time in Singapore that a set of definitive data on the key health indicators of diabetic patients is available.

This data is based on a total of 138,151 diabetic patients on follow-up at NHG - Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the nine NHG Polyclinics, during the period of April to June 2007.

Diabetes Registry - Closer Monitoring of Diabetic Patients
The Diabetes Registry showed that 14%, or one in seven, NHG patients with diabetes have poor blood sugar control, compared to international standards which range from 23.6% to 49.1%. Fifty-nine percent (59%), or three in five, of these patients have poor cholesterol control, versus internationally acceptable standards of 50% - 67.4%.

This information is important and timely. Moving forward, the Diabetes Registry will also be used to systematically identify those in the "high-risk" groups, which we will pay special attention to through targeted and tailored programmes if necessary.

Diabetes Mellitus: Top 10 leading Cause of Death in Singapore
Diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems in the 21st century. According to the National Health Survey in 2004, 8.2% (18 - 69 years old) of Singaporeans, or about 328,000 people, suffer from diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is associated with significant suffering and is the 7th leading cause of death in Singapore in 2006. Complications arising from diabetes include coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels in the lower limbs), stroke, diabetes neuropathy (sensory nerves of legs affected), amputations, renal failure and blindness. These conditions lead to disability, reduce life expectancy and quality of life, and add to the enormous health costs of those affected.

The key health indicators for the treatment of diabetes are blood sugar (HbA1c) and cholesterol (LDL-c) levels.
The Diabetes Registry, set up by NHG in April 2006, is designed to support doctors and nurses to better manage patients.

This electronic database captures clinical information of all patients with diabetes such as their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol results, and the health services they have used. The Registry helps clinicians to provide consistent care by "decision alerts". A doctor will, for example, be prompted to schedule a patient for a retinal eye examination at least once a year or order a panel of blood tests when patient is due for it.

NHG has plans to expand the Registry to track and manage other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stroke. These are important cardiovascular risk factors. This is in line with the Ministry of Health's overall chronic disease framework and strategy which includes enhancing technology and publishing data to empower patients and healthcare providers alike.

NHG has also been working closely with General Practitioners to manage chronic patients whose conditions are stable and do not require specialist care at hospitals. Its various chronic disease management programmes on coronary heart disease, asthma and diabetes have yielded very good outcomes. NHG's Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme, launched in 2004 to equip chronic disease patients and caregivers to take an active role in managing their health, has also reported encouraging results.

Patient Empowerment: Self-Management
Chronic diseases are the major cause of death and suffering in Singapore. One in four Singaporeans suffer from diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. However, it is also well documented that chronic disease patients achieve better health outcomes when they take co-responsibility of their care. As part of NHG's ongoing self-management initiative to empower patients and Singaporeans with the right information and tools to better manage their health, we are pleased to present the first ever comprehensive chronic disease TV programme with a strong call to action message. This eight-parter TV programme, titled "LifeWise" will debut on 1 September, Saturday, 9.30pm - 10pm, Channel 8. It will run on Channel 5, from February to March 2008. The TV programme is sponsored by the Singapore Totalisator Board and Aviva Limited.

ANNEX 1

ANNEX 2