Factors Associated With the Frequency of Medical Consultations in Patients With Various Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Proper management of diabetes mellitus (DM) is essential to prevent long-term complications, improve patients’ quality of life, and reduce the economic burden on healthcare services. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with the number of medical consultations received in the last quarter by patients with different types of diabetes, who were affiliated with the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS: acronym in Spanish) in Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the database of patients with DM affiliated with SIS in Peru was conducted. Two robust variance regression models were used to identify potential associated factors. Results: Data from 1,355,354 patients were analyzed. In model 1, which included comorbidities as separate variables, it was found that men, older individuals (especially those aged 60 - 69), and residents of the jungle region had a higher probability of receiving more medical consultations. The presence of obesity/dyslipidemia, hypertension, and mental health disorders also increased the likelihood of more consultations. In comparison, patients with type 2 DM had fewer consultations compared to those with type 1 DM. The findings were consistent with the first model in model 2, which included the total number of comorbidities instead of each separately. Additionally, a higher total number of comorbidities was associated with an increased number of medical consultations. Conclusions: Several vital factors influencing the frequency of medical consultations received by DM patients have been identified. Adapting healthcare services to address regional disparities in access to and use of medical services is crucial.