SUPREME-DM (Diabetes Mellitis) Treatment Study

This randomized trial tested the hypothesis that a telephone contact with a patient recently prescribed a new medication for uncontrolled glycated hemoglobin (A1c), blood pressure, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol would improve (a) primary medication adherence, (b) medication persistence, (c) medication possession ratio, and (d) A1c, blood pressure or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control. This study was part of the larger Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funded SUPREME-DM study. The clinical trial reported here was coordinated and led by HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research, while data collection was coordinated through Kaiser Permanente Northwest and analysis was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Colorado. The clinical intervention sites for this study included Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Group Health Cooperative, Marshfield Clinic, and Geisinger Clinic.

Inclusion criteria

• At each clinical intervention site, study subjects were selected if they:

• were age 18-75 years
• met study criteria for diabetes mellitus before study enrollment
• received clinical care at a designated clinic or medical center involved in this study for at least 15 months before enrollment
• were prescribed a new class of medication (not filled in the past 180 days) for A1c, BP, or LDL that was uncontrolled at the time of medication prescription (A1c>=8%, systolic BP>= 140 mm Hg, or LDL >=100 mg/dL).

Exclusion criteria

• Study subjects were excluded if they were younger than 18 years of age
• Older than 75 years of age
• Did not have evidence of diabetes mellitus prior to study enrollment
• Were not receiving care at a clinic site involved in this study for at least 15 months before enrollment
• Did not have prescribed a new class of medication for uncontrolled A1c, BP or LDL.