New Hypertension Study Findings Have Been Reported from Ministry of Public Health (Effective coverage of diabetes and hypertension: an analysis of Thailand’s national insurance database 2016-2019): Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions – Hypertension

2022 DEC 15 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on hypertension. According to news reporting out of Nonthaburi, Thailand, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “This study assesses effective coverage of diabetes and hypertension in Thailand during 2016-2019. Mixed method, analysis of National health insurance database 2016-2019 and in-depth interviews.”

Funders for this research include National Health Security Office, Thailand.

The news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Ministry of Public Health: “Beneficiaries of Universal Coverage Scheme residing outside Bangkok. Participants Quantitative analysis was performed by acquiring individual patient data of diabetes and hypertension cases in the Universal Coverage Scheme residing outside bangkok in 2016-2019. Qualitative analysis was conducted by in-depth interview of 85 multi-stakeholder key informants to identify challenges. Estimate three indicators: detected need (diagnosed/total estimated cases), crude coverage (received health services/total estimated cases) and effective coverage (controlled/total estimated cases) were compared. Controlled diabetes was defined as haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) below 7% and controlled hypertension as blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Estimated cases were 3.1-3.2 million for diabetes and 8.7-9.2 million for hypertension. For diabetes, all indicators have shown slow improvement between 2016 and 2019 (67.4%, 69.9%, 71.9% and 74.7% for detected need; 38.7%, 43.1%, 45.1% and 49.8% for crude coverage and 8.1%, 10.5%, 11.8% and 11.7% for effective coverage). For hypertension, the performance was poorer for detection (48.9%, 50.3%, 51.8% and 53.3%) and crude coverage (22.3%, 24.7%, 26.5% and 29.2%) but was better for effective coverage (11.3%, 13.2%, 15.1% and 15.7%) than diabetes. Results were better for the women and older age groups in both diseases. Complex interplays between supply and demand side were a key challenge. Database challenges also hamper regular assessment of effective coverage. Sensitivity analysis when using at least three annual visits shows slight improvement of effective coverage.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Effective coverage was low for both diseases, though improving in 2016-2019, especially among men and ayounger populations. The increasing rate of effective coverage was significantly smaller than crude coverage. Health information systems limitation is a major barrier to comprehensive measurement. To maximise effective coverage, long-term actions should address primary prevention of non-communicable disease risk factors, while short-term actions focus on improving Chronic Care Model.”

For more information on this research see: Effective coverage of diabetes and hypertension: an analysis of Thailand’s national insurance database 2016-2019. BMJ Open, 2022,12(12). (BMJ Open - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/). The publisher for BMJ Open is BMJ Publishing Group.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066289.

Our news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Walaiporn Patcharanarumol, International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand. Additional authors for this research include Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Aniqa Islam Marshall, Vuthiphan Vongmongkol, Woranan Witthayapipopsakul, Nattadhanai Rajatanavin, Nithiwat Saengruang, Yaowaluk Wanwong.

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