[An evaluation of glycosylated hemoglobin requesting patterns in a primary care setting: a pilot experience in the Valencian Community (Spain)].

OBJECTIVE To assess the pattern of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) requests by clinicians from eight health departments by calculating indicators of demand appropriateness. METHODS A cross-sectional study of the number of HbA(1c) requests by primary care clinics in 2008 and 2009. The indicator of demand appropriateness was the proportion of HbA(1c) values lower than 6.5%. Variables were collected and indicators were automatically calculated. The number of HbA(1c) measurements that should theoretically have been requested according to known diabetes prevalence data was also calculated. RESULTS A progressive increase was seen in demand for HbA(1c) measurements. Approximately 54% of HbA(1c) values obtained in seven of the eight departments studied were lower than 6.5%. The number of theoretical HbA(1c) requests that would have been expected based on the known prevalence of diabetes was higher than the number of HbA(1c) requests in all departments. CONCLUSION The results appear to suggest that HbA(1c) requests by the health departments studied were not always appropriate. HbA(1c) measurements were probably overused in patients without diabetes and underused in patients with diabetes.