# Outcome of Follow-Up Care Frequency on the Glycemic Control of Diabetic Patients in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study shows that regular follow-up care improves blood sugar control in diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates a direct link between follow-up frequency and glycemic control in diabetic patients in Qassim.

## Key findings

- 75.2% of diabetic patients had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%).
- Only 11.9% of patients received routine follow-up care.
- Regular follow-up was significantly associated with better glycemic control.

## Abstract

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of follow-up care frequencies on the glycemic control of diabetic patients in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of diabetic patients registered during the period August 2022 to July 2024 at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Qassim was conducted. The association between follow-up care and various metabolic outcomes was determined by applying the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. SPSS software version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US) was used for data analysis.

Results

The study included 286 patients with diabetes; 75.2% of them had glycemic control issues (HbA1c ≥ 7%), 56.3% of patients saw a doctor just once during the study period, and only 11.9% of patients received routine follow-up. Glycemic control and follow-up frequency were found to be significantly associated (χ² = 15.892, p < 0.001), with patients who received regular follow-up showing better results. Furthermore, poor glycemic control was significantly associated with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p = 0.015), but no significant associations were found with other lipid parameters.

Conclusions

In diabetic patients, better glycemic control has a direct relationship with regular follow-up care. These results emphasize the importance of organized, ongoing care in maximizing diabetes management as well as the inclusion of follow-up frequency into regular clinical practice.