[Description of a diabetes disease register extracted from a central database].

OBJECTIVES: To describe the development of inclusion criteria for identifying diabetic patients using administrative, laboratory and pharmacy data on a large central electronic database.
DESIGN: A descriptive study in which entry criteria were developed, validated then changed in an iterative fashion and revalidated. The final register was compared with a traditionally built diabetes register.
RESULTS: The four criterion chosen were: 1) HbAlc> or = 7.25%; 2) Glucose> or = 200mg/dl (for individuals who are included in the register on this criterion alone, supporting data for the diagnosis of diabetes is required at six months. If none are found, the patient is deleted from the register); 3) Purchase of diabetic medication twice in the last two months; 4) A diagnosis of diabetes (ICD9 code) in the chart and HbA1c6.5% or Glucose > 125mg/dl.
CONCLUSION: Adoption of criteria for identification of diabetic patients using data sets on central computers can provide the registers necessary for diabetes care.